Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed on Monday what he called U.S. President Donald Trump's courageous decision in reimposing U.S. sanctions on Iran.
"This day is an historic day," Netanyahu said in public remarks to legislators from his right-wing Likud party.
"I would like to again thank U.S. President Donald Trump for the courageous, determined and important decision. I think this contributes to stability and security and peace."
On Monday, the U.S. administration reinstated all sanctions removed on Iran following a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. The sanctions target Iran’s oil exports, shipping and banks - all core parts of the Iranian economy.
A security delegation from the Egyptian intelligence service left the Gaza Strip on Saturday after talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire between resistance factions and Israel and healing inter-Palestinian rift.The delegation left the strip via the Erez crossing following a two-day visit, a Palestinian security official said on condition of anonymity because he was no authorized to speak to media.The source did not give details where the delegation was heading.The delegation had held talks with leaders of Gaza-based Palestinian factions with a view to brokering a truce between them and Israel and healing a rift between rival groups Hamas and Fatah.Hamas demands Britain apologize for Balfour DeclarationThe Egyptian delegation has been holding a shuttle diplomacy between the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel for weeks, during which they are meeting with officials of Hamas, rival group Fatah and the Israeli government.An informed Palestinian source earlier told Anadolu Agency that Egypt’s intelligence agency had made "significant progress" in truce negotiations.According to leaked information, the proposed agreement calls for easing Israel’s 12-year blockade of the Gaza Strip in exchange for a halt to the ongoing protests along the buffer zone.Turkish relief organization helps injured PalestiniansSince March 30, Gaza-based political factions -- especially Hamas and Islamic Jihad -- have organized almost daily demonstrations along the buffer zone.Protesters demand the right to return to their homes and villages in historical Palestine, from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 12-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of many basic commodities, including food, fuel and medicine.Since the rallies began some seven months ago, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the buffer zone.Palestinian resistance factions vow to continue Gaza Strip rallies
Egyptian delegation leaves Gaza after truce talks
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for imposing sanctions on Iran.
"President (Donald) Trump's bold decision is the sea-change the Middle East has been waiting for," Lieberman said in a statement on Monday.
"In a single move, the United States is dealing a critical blow to Iran's entrenchment in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen. President Trump, you've done it again! Thank you," he said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that new U.S. sanctions were "backfiring", making Washington more isolated, not the Islamic Republic."Today, US defied UN top court and Security Council by reimposing sanctions on Iran that target ordinary people. But US bullying is backfiring... The US — and not Iran — is isolated." Zarif said in a tweet. Germany says legal business relations with Iran should be possibleIsrael thanks Trump for Iran sanctionsSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugsIran says it will defy 'economic war' as US reimposes sanctions
Iran's Zarif says sanctions 'backfiring,' isolating US
The U.S. is seeking to "alter" Iranian behavior with the sanctions, and has been leaking out a stream of 12 demands it wants to see Iran agree to in exchange for re-lifting the economic penalties.
The U.S. expects to have reduced Iranian oil exports by more than 1 million barrels even before Monday's tranche of economic penalties, which the U.S. has long warned were incoming.
All of the other signatories -- China, the European Union, France, Germany, Iran, Russia and the United Kingdom -- have remained in the nuclear deal despite the U.S. withdrawal.
The accord provided Iran with billions of dollars in relief from international sanctions in exchange for sweeping curbs on and inspections of its nuclear program.
Britain said on Monday it regretted a U.S. decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran."We regret the reimposition of sanctions by the U.S. We continue to believe that the Iran nuclear deal makes the world a safer place and our position remains that as long as Iran continues to meet its obligations under the deal by respecting strict limits on its nuclear activity, we will be committed to it too," Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said."As such we continue to fully support expanding our trade relationship with Iran and encourage UK businesses to take advantage of commercial opportunities that arise."The U.S. has restored sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the administration of President Barack Obama and five other world powers. It added 300 new designations in Iran's oil, shipping, insurance and banking sectors. Germany says legal business relations with Iran should be possibleIsrael thanks Trump for Iran sanctionsSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugs
Britain regrets imposition of US sanctions on Iran: PM May's spokesman
Germany is convinced that it should enable legal business relations with Iran and is checking how to protect companies affected by sanctions reimposed on Iran by Washington, a government spokesman said on Monday."We are assessing how we will be able to protect the basis of our business engagements there," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said.Israel thanks Trump for Iran sanctionsSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugsIran says it will defy 'economic war' as US reimposes sanctions
Germany says legal business relations with Iran should be possible
Switzerland is holding talks with the United States and Iran about launching a humanitarian payment channel to help ensure food and drugs keep flowing to the Islamic Republic amid tightened U.S. sanctions, the government said.Restored U.S. sanctions are part of a wider effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to force Iran to curb its nuclear and missile programmes as well as its support for proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.Iran has taken a defiant line. It will sell its oil and break U.S. sanctions on its vital energy and banking sectors, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said."Switzerland is committed to safeguarding Swiss economic interests and closely follows the development of the situation. The authorities are in direct contact with the competent authorities of the United States, the EU and Iran," the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said in an emailed statement on Monday.Iran in contact with other signatories of nuclear deal as US reinforces sanctions"Particularly in the humanitarian field, the federal government is committed to ensuring that food and pharmaceutical products can continue to be supplied from Switzerland," it said, adding it was in touch with U.S. authorities, Iran and unnamed Swiss companies on developing a humanitarian payment channel. A SECO spokesman would not elaborate on the plan.Switzerland, which represents U.S. diplomatic interests in Iran, was not involved in separate European Union discussions on setting up a special purpose vehicle to continue trade with Iran, but was following the talks closely, SECO said.The Swiss were also not involved in developing alternative mechanisms to SWIFT in the area of secure messaging and payment transactions.Switzerland in August encouraged Swiss companies to pursue business ties with Iran prudently and expressed regret at the poor sanctions situation.China says its lawful trade with Iran should be respectedSwiss-based Nestle, the world's biggest food company which produces infant formula and cereals as well as bottled water in Iran, said in August it saw no direct fallout from renewed U.S. sanctions on the country.But Swiss lender Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) in May suspended new transactions with Iran and started winding down Iran-related business. Founded in 1963, BCP had been among the players active in Iran-related trade finance in commodities, finance sources say.Overall Swiss exports to Iran rose 7.6 percent in 2017 to 536 million Swiss francs ($534 million) while imports rose 300 percent to 85 million francs. In the first nine months of this year, exports fell to 311.2 million while imports hit 17.2 million, provisional trade data show.US ratchets up pressure on Iran with resumption of sanctions
Swiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugs