- Israel had long opposed the Iran nuclear deal, saying it was too limited in scope and timeframe
- Other parties to the nuclear deal 鈥� Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia 鈥� opposed the US move
JERUSALEM: Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman welcomed US sanctions that took effect Monday targeting Iran鈥檚 oil and financial sectors, calling it a 鈥渃ritical鈥� blow to Tehran鈥檚 actions in the region.
鈥淧resident (Donald) Trump鈥檚 bold decision is the sea-change the Middle East has been waiting for,鈥� Lieberman said in a statement.
鈥淚n a single move, the United States is dealing a critical blow to Iran鈥檚 entrenchment in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen. President Trump, you鈥檝e done it again! Thank you.鈥�
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday also thanked Trump for the sanctions against his country鈥檚 main enemy.
The measures described by Washington as 鈥渢he toughest sanctions ever鈥� follow Trump鈥檚 controversial decision in May to abandon the multi-nation nuclear deal with Tehran.
They aim to significantly reduce Iran鈥檚 oil exports 鈥� which have already fallen by around one million barrels a day since May 鈥� and cut it off from international finance.
Israel had long opposed the Iran nuclear deal, saying it was too limited in scope and timeframe.
It also said the lifting of sanctions allowed Iran to finance militant groups and its own military activity.
Israel is particularly concerned with Iran鈥檚 involvement in neighboring Syria and has pledged to keep it from entrenching itself militarily there.
The other parties to the nuclear deal 鈥� Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia 鈥� opposed the US move and say the accord is working as intended in keeping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons for now.