Netanyahu calls for stricter sanctions on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the escalation of the sanctions against Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program.

At a Tuesday meeting with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in al-Quds (Jerusalem), Netanyahu repeated Tel Aviv’s allegations against Iran’s nuclear energy program and noted, “The sanctions must be continued, they must be strengthened.”

According to Israeli media reports, Greece has a series of differences with the Israeli regime over Iran.

Netanyahu’s baseless accusation comes nearly a week before Iran’s upcoming negotiations with six world powers in Geneva on October 15 and 16 over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear activities.

During his October 1 speech at the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Netanyahu had called for the escalation of international pressures against Iran and threatened unilateral military action against the country.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and the European Union using the unsubstantiated claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.

The bans come on top of four rounds of US-instigated UN Security Council sanctions against Iran under the same pretext.

Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.