Sa’ar urges ‘snapback’ sanctions after Iran suspends IAEA cooperation

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Wednesday urged the international community to “utilize all means at its disposal” to confront the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions.

“Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency),” Sa’ar wrote on X, referencing reports in Iranian state media that Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian had ordered the implementation of June 25 legislation to halt inspections of Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

Accusing the Islamic Republic of a “renunciation of all its international nuclear obligations and commitments,” Sa’ar said the international community must respond decisively.

“The time to activate the Snapback mechanism is now! I call upon the E3 countries- Germany, France and the U.K. to reinstate all sanctions against Iran!” Jerusalem’s top diplomat wrote in the X statement.

Tehran’s state-run Mehr news agency reported earlier on Wednesday that Pezeshkian had approved the bill, which bans IAEA inspectors from entering the country until the Supreme National Security Council determines that the security of nuclear facilities is guaranteed.

Speaking during an official visit to Latvia on Tuesday, Sa’ar said that “Operation Rising Lion” against Iran had “demonstrated the extent of the Iranian regime’s threat to Israel, Europe, and world order.”

“Iran deliberately targeted civilian population centers with its ballistic missiles. Your own deputy ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv was unfortunately hit,” Sa’ar said alongside his Latvian counterpart at a press conference, warning, “The same missile threat can reach Europe, including Latvia and the Baltic states.”

Accordingly, “Israel’s actions against the head of the snake in Iran contributed directly to the safety of Europe,” the top diplomat said.

In a meeting with Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on Wednesday, Sa’ar declared that Israel’s actions “set the Iranian nuclear program back many years and contributed directly to European security.”

“I thanked the President for his support and solidarity with Israel after the October 7th Massacre,” tweeted Sa’ar. “We will further strengthen relations between our nations!”

Sa’ar departed Monday for a diplomatic visit to the three Baltic states—Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.