Netanyahu Urges Snapback Sanctions on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu‏‏ issued a call on Tuesday night for immediate sanctions on Iran over its nuclear weapons program.

“We know exactly what is happening with the Iranian nuclear program. Iran thinks it can achieve nuclear weapons. I reiterate: Israel will not allow Iran to achieve nuclear weapons. I also call on all Western countries to impose snapback sanctions at the UN now.”

The prime minister’s statement came as Britain, France and Germany formally accused Iran of violating the terms of its 2015 agreement to curb its nuclear program, a step by the three powers that could lead eventually to the reimposition of U.N. sanctions lifted under the deal.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, an IDF report said the Islamic Republic could have a deliverable nuclear weapons capability within two years.

The IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate (MID) estimated that at the present rate of development, Tehran will have enough material to construct a nuclear bomb within a year, and a missile on which to mount it within two years.

The same report assessed the regional security situation and said that in the wake of the elimination of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, Israel has a window of opportunity to ramp up its operations against Iranian entrenchment in Syria and elsewhere.

It described the assassination as a “restraining event” for the region’s future. Soleimani’s successor – his former deputy, Gen. Esmail Qaani – is thought to be a less effective organizer of aggression and terror than his predecessor.

Regarding the U.S. presence, it said 18,000 American troops are expected to soon join the 85,000 currently stationed in the region.

Syria will continue to be fertile ground for cross-border fighting: Turkey will continue to conquer territory, and Russia will continue its consolidation of power in the country.

Continued instability was predicted in Lebanon, and Israeli action will be necessary to curb a Hezbollah strengthening with Iranian support.

In Gaza the outlook was for calm, helped along by improvement in residents’ lives with increased electricity hours, the flow of clean water, more available medicines, and so on.

Once again, the assessment was that Hamas does not seek a major military confrontation with Israel, at least for the time being.