Israeli Defense Minister Criticizes European Countries' Engagement with Iran

Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Defense Minister, criticized the ongoing economic relations between European countries and Iran on Wednesday, July 10. Lieberman tweeted that European countries allow themselves to interfere in Israel's internal matters, including border protection, but have no problem paying money to the Ayatollah regime, which imprisons an 18-year-old girl for dancing without a hijab. The minister's reference was to the arrest of Maedeh Hojabri, who had posted a video of her dance on Instagram. The Islamic Republic of Iran's television aired a report this week about Maedeh Hojabri expressing 'regret,' which received widespread negative reactions. It is reported that Maedeh Hojabri has been released on bail. Lieberman further stated that if the Europeans were a bit more honest and less hypocritical, they would cut all their contacts with Iran to change the oppressive and criminal regime of Khamenei and his associates. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced Washington's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the JCPOA, in May of this year. Following this decision, the U.S. also asked all countries to cut their economic relations with Iran by November this year. In this context, the Trump administration explicitly requested that countries buying Iranian oil stop all imports from Iran starting November 1, coinciding with the reimposition of U.S. sanctions against Tehran. Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated that the new U.S. leadership's goal regarding Iran is to change the behavior of the Islamic Republic's leaders. Meanwhile, the three European countries, Britain, France, and Germany, are trying to preserve the nuclear agreement with Iran. These three European countries hope to ensure Tehran's continued adherence to the JCPOA after the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions by guaranteeing economic relations with Iran. Iranian officials have consistently called for the 'destruction of Israel,' and in response, Israel claims to be looking for ways to change this Iranian approach.