Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: GPO.

JNS.org – Following the official lifting of international sanctions against Iran over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will “continue to monitor all of Iran’s international violations, including regarding the nuclear agreement, the ballistic missile agreement, and terrorism.”

“The international community must enact severe and aggressive sanctions against each violation,” Netanyahu said. “Were it not for our efforts to lead sanctions and thwart Iran’s nuclear program, Iran would have had nuclear weapons some time ago. Israel’s policy is exactly as it has been—not to allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. What is clear is that Iran will now have more resources to divert to terrorism and its aggression in the region and around the world, and Israel is prepared to deal with any threat.”

Netanyahu added that discussions with the Obama administration—which brokered last summer’s nuclear deal along with the other P5+1 nations—“are currently being completed on a document of understandings for the coming decade regarding security assistance to the State of Israel. This is an important part of permanent policy between us and the United States, our ally, and it is important in order to repel threats in the region, especially the Iranian threat.”