May Refuses Netanyahu’s Anti-Iran Request

British Prime Minister Theresa May has resisted pressure to reexamine the viability of the international nuclear deal with Iran from her Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, who urged her to follow US President Donald Trump's example by imposing fresh sanctions. 

Netanyahu had said "responsible" countries should follow Trump in imposing new sanctions against Iran after it test-fired a ballistic missile. But May expressed her concern about Iran's actions without saying there was a need for sanctions, the Guardian reported. 

At their first meeting in London on Monday, Netanyahu was canvassing support from the British prime minister ahead of a meeting he is due to hold with Trump later this month, which will reveal more about the new US administration's policy toward the Middle East.

Before going into No. 10, Netanyahu took the rare step of using the traditional "warm words" in front of the cameras to make clear that he wants Britain to take action against Iran. 

Standing on the steps of Downing Street he told reporters, "We face challenges … from Iran."

He claimed, "Iran seeks to annihilate Israel; it seeks to conquer the Middle East; it threatens Europe; it threatens the West; it threatens the world. And it offers provocation after provocation."

"That’s why I welcome President Trump's assistance of new sanctions against Iran, I think other nations should follow suit, certainly responsible nations. And I'd like to talk to you about how we can ensure that Iran's [alleged] aggression does not go unanswered."

Following the meeting, May's official spokeswoman said the premier had "made clear that we support the deal on nuclear that was agreed". 

Echoing May's words from a speech in Philadelphia last week, the spokeswoman said, "What needs to happen now is that it needs to be properly enforced and policed, and we also need to be alert to Iran's [alleged] pattern of destabilizing activity in the region." 

The deal, under which sanctions were lifted in return for Tehran limiting its nuclear activities, had "neutralized the possibility of the Iranians acquiring nuclear weapons for more than a decade", said the premier's spokeswoman. 

Iran says its nuclear program is totally for civilian applications and has no military aspects. This has been verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency.