EU Strengthens Iran Sanctions, Israel Applauds

The European Union levied a new array of sanctions on Tehran on Monday. The EU said it was troubled by what it called Iran’s refusal to come clean on its nuclear program. The measures are designed to hit Iran’s treasury by banning Iranian natural gas imports.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the EU for toughening its stance. “I want to commend the EU for the tough sanctions that were adopted yesterday against the greatest threat to peace in our time,” he said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast denounced the new sanctions as “inhuman” and said the sanctions would only serve to make Iran stronger.

The European Union also boosted pressure on Iranian ally Syria. New regulations ban Syrian Arab Airlines from EU airports, and prohibit the provision of any financial services to Syrian arms exports.

Additionally, the EU announced it would be sending peace keepers to Northern Africa. EU troops will back the Mali government against Islamist separatists.

Europe’s ramped up action in the Middle East comes at a time when America is not only seeking an exit from the region, but is distracted with the Benghazi massacre and the coming presidential elections.

Bible prophecy indicates that the current Iran-Europe dispute will culminate in a modern-day European crusade against Iran. It also indicates that European peacekeepers will be invited into Israel before betraying the nation. The new sanctions imposed this week are just another step forward in that tension building toward that inevitable military action. For more information on these Bible prophecies, read Gerald Flurry’s article “The Last Crusade.”