Gilad Erdan, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, expressed the Jewish state's full support for America's triggering of the snapback mechanism at the UN Security Council – which would reinstate international sanctions against the Iranian regime – during a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday.
"Israel stands firmly with the United States, and will do all in its power to assist the US government in stopping Iran’s malign activities and aspirations," Erdan said on Friday.
Erdan noted that instead of imposing upon Tehran crippling sanction that will curb the regime's "murderous ambitions," the Security Council is absconding its mission and its mandate, which in turn is paving the way for a nuclear Iran that will threaten the entire global community.
He added that "the European Union must abandon the support that, in effect, it is lending to the Ayatollahs in Iran."The comment comes after certain countries argued that the US could not announce a snapback since it is no longer a participant in the agreement. However, while the UNSC can vote to override the snapback request with a resolution that would extend the sanctions relief, the US can veto that request.
During Friday's meeting, Pompeo remarked that Israel and the United States will continue to "work on Iran's malign influence and promote prosperity, security, commerce and stability in the region."
"Great speaking with Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan today," he added.
Pompeo and Erdan also discussed the US-moderated peace agreement that recently emerged between Israel and the UAE. The deal includes Israel suspending its plans to partially annex parts of the West Bank, which has led to mixed reactions in the region. Backlash has come from Palestinian officials, and some Saudi Arabian leaders have said that peace won't be made with Israel until Israel and the Palestinian conflict is resolved.
However, other Arab states are rumored to be following the UAE's lead and have allegedly begun working on normalizing ties with the Jewish state.
"This important development will likely pave the way for other peace agreements in the region, and will also send a strong message to the Palestinians that the Arab world will not be swayed by continued Palestinian rejectionism," the ambassador said.
Erdan thanked Pompeo and US President Donald Trump for their leadership in this groundbreaking and historic achievement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also lauded the US decision to trigger the process of snapping back UN sanctions against Iran.
Netanyahu issued a video statement in English from Jerusalem, within less than an hour after Pompeo told reporters at UN headquarters in New York that he had formally submitted a request to snap back the sanctions.
“Israel stands proudly and firmly with the United States, as do governments across the Middle East who opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action [the Iran nuclear deal] quietly and now support the restoration of sanctions publicly," the prime minister said.
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.