Despite the tension between Israel and the European Union, the former commended the latter on Wednesday for announcing sanctions against an Iranian intelligence unit and a few members of its staff after Holland accused the Islamic Republic of two murders in 2015 and 2017 on Dutch soil.
It joins Denmark and France, which have alleged that the regime planned other attacks last year in Europe.
“This is an important first step by the E.U., combating Iranian aggression,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry tweeted. “The newly imposed sanctions offer some hope that a growing number of countries are willing to take an active, clear stand against Iran’s global campaign of terrorism.”
This is an important first step by the #EU, combating Iranian aggression. The newly imposed sanctions offer some hope that a growing number of countries are willing to take an active, clear stand against #Iran’s global campaign of #terrorism. https://t.co/ET1QJNYazE — Israel Foreign Min. (@IsraelMFA) January 9, 2019
The sanctions took effect on Wednesday. It marks the first time that the world body has issued sanctions on Iran since lifting penalties three years ago following the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
