Israel Calls for Europe to 'Wake Up' Against the 'Evil Empire' of the Islamic Republic

Israeli officials continue their diplomatic campaign for more sanctions against the Islamic Republic, particularly targeting its nuclear and missile programs. In an interview with Politico published on Sunday, April 21, Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated that European leaders do not understand the threat posed by the 'evil empire' of the Islamic Republic and need to wake up. Herzog warned European leaders that if they do not take strong action against the threat from the Islamic Republic, they will pay the price in the future, referencing Russia's use of thousands of Iranian drones in its attacks on Ukraine and the advancement of Iran's nuclear program. Concurrently, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen urged EU foreign ministers to impose sanctions on Iran's missile program. The senior Israeli diplomat stated in a post on X that 'Iran's missile project endangers the world.' Cohen further addressed the foreign ministers of all EU member states and Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, saying, 'I urge the foreign ministers of Europe to sanction Iran's missile project: We must stop the Iranian regime before it is too late.' This comes after Iran's drone and missile attacks against Israel, leading the United States on Thursday, April 20, to impose dozens of new sanctions against Iran's drone program, steel industry, and automotive companies. The G7 foreign ministers also acknowledged the threats from the Islamic Republic the following day, warning that if Iran provides ballistic missiles to Russia, they will impose sanctions. Bloomberg reported that an attack on the Islamic Republic's consulate building in Damascus destroyed the entire command branch of the IRGC in Syria. The New York Times noted that intercepting a missile launched at Natanz's air defense was not possible for the Islamic Republic. Iran is attempting to downplay the Israeli attack; Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian stated that it was not a drone but a toy. A Biden aide remarked that recent regional cooperation in neutralizing Iran's attack on Israel was the result of years of planning. The article also reflects on the decades-long hostility between the Islamic Republic and Israel, highlighting the UN Security Council meeting as a scene of confrontation between the two countries, with representatives from both sides exchanging threats and criticisms.