Israel's Netanyahu says Theresa May should follow Donald Trump with Iran sanctions
The Prime Minister is meeting Benjamin Netanyahu at Downing Street where Iran, settlement-building and trade are on the agenda.
Monday 6 February 2017 22:06, UK
Israel's Prime Minister has urged Theresa May to follow Donald Trump in imposing fresh sanctions on Iran following its ballistic missile test.
Speaking ahead of formal discussions at Downing Street, Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran "threatens the West, it threatens the world".
He told the Prime Minister that "responsible countries" should follow the US President's move to issue new sanctions against Iran.
In an unusual move, Mr Netanyahu used the warm words ahead of the formal talks to tell Mrs May: "Iran seeks to annihilate Israel, it seeks to conquer the Middle East, it threatens Europe, it threatens the West, it threatens the world.
"And it offers provocation after provocation.
"That's why I welcome (US) President Trump's assistance of new sanctions against Iran, I think other nations should follow suit, certainly responsible nations."
Iran has said despite US sanctions over a test firing last weekend.
Mrs May indicated she would be willing to discuss the issue but the Prime Minister is keen to talk post-Brexit trade links.
She has also come under pressure to tackle Mr Netanyahu over Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories, which is against international law, although Israel disputes this.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pressed Mrs May to make sure the Israeli Prime Minister knows "the British government will stand unequivocally behind the rights of the Palestinian people" over settlement-building.
He said: "The Israeli government's decision to build 3,000 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal under international law and a threat to peace and international security.
"It undermines still further the prospect of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict."
Despite his criticism of Israel's policy, Mr Corbyn has not requested a meeting with Mr Netanyahu to press his case in person.
Mr Corbyn has been criticised for describing the militant Palestinian group Hamas as "friends" and his unwillingness to request a meeting puts him at odds with his insistence that it is important to talk to all sides in the Middle East dispute.
Mr Netanyahu has sparked controversy in the last few weeks by backing the building of 3,000 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank.
A Downing Street spokesperson said Mrs May and Mr Netanyahu discussed a number of international issues and added: "They also talked about the Middle East Peace Process and the UK's firm commitment to a two-state solution as the best way to bring stability and peace to the region.
"The Prime Minister reiterated the UK's opposition to settlement activity."