Israel welcomes moves by US to impose sanctions on Iran

The Israeli Foreign Ministry yesterday welcomed the US decision to impose serious sanctions on Iran. In a statement the Foreign Ministry said that is represents "an important contribution through international means to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear program."

The US classified the following Iranian organisations as terrorist groups: Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics proliferators of ballistic missile technology, and the Quds Force. The classification of these groups as terrorist organisations means that any of their US assets would be frozen and Americans would be banned from doing business with them. It is the first time that a state's military has been put on the US terrorist list.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explained that the decision was a way "to increase the costs to Iran of its irresponsible behaviour." Rice added that Iran's persistence in developing its nuclear programme, its support of terrorist organisations in Iraq and the Palestinian territories, and its call to wipe Israel off the map were all reasons for the administration's decision.

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