Friday Jul 18, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home Analysis

Fear and loathing in the United Kingdom

The British, it seems, will do everything in their power to avoid making the Iranians angry. Yes, the same Iranians who ordered Hezbollah to build bombs in London.

by  Oded Granot
Published on  06-11-2019 11:29
Last modified: 06-12-2019 10:50
Fear and loathing in the United KingdomReuters

An armed police officer patrols outside the Houses of Parliament in London | Illustration: Reuters

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In the summer of 2015, then-US President Barack Obama and his European allies basked in the warm, intoxicating glow of the nuclear deal with Iran. The sense of achievement was so overwhelming that the mere thought that Iran could continue manufacturing long-range ballistic missiles and sowing terror across the region never crossed anyone's mind.

In this vein, and in order to avoid tarnishing the festive atmosphere or heaven forbid nip the nuclear deal in the bud, the British chose to conceal the incriminating information from the media about the bomb-making factories Hezbollah had built on Iran's behalf in the northwest of London. This evidence was hidden not only from the media but from members of parliament, some of whom, it isn't a secret, wouldn't have approved the deal.

London is just one of the global terrorist hubs Iran sought to establish at the height of negotiations over its nuclear program. The incriminating evidence provided by Israeli intelligence – and the arrests that followed – were reported on in the United States, Thailand, and Cyprus, but the story was buried in the United Kingdom. And in their desire to avoid making the Iranians angry, it also took the British more than three years, until February 2019, to publicly state that there is no difference between Hezbollah's military and political wings and to add the Lebanon-based group to its list of terrorist organizations.

What's sad about this story is that over these past four years the Europeans have not changed their approach to Tehran very much. Iran is straining under the economic sanctions imposed by the United States. The Iranian economy is crumbling. Its oil exports have plummeted from over one million barrels per day to less than 400,000. One US dollar is now worth around 50,000 rials, while inflation has skyrocketed to above 40%.

But instead of exploiting the situation to pressure Iran, Germany's foreign minister rushed to Tehran on Monday to urge the Iranians not to withdraw from the nuclear deal and to promise they would soon be able to use the mechanism crafted by the EU to bypass the American sanctions.

Iran's foreign minister reminded his German counterpart that Tehran's ultimatum for "solving the problem" created by the White House would expire in less than one month. In the meantime, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on Monday that Iran has started accelerating its uranium enrichment, although still to within the parameters of the nuclear deal.

At their joint press conference, the two foreign ministers failed to address the new ballistic missile unveiled by the Iranians this week or the Islamic republic's ballistic missile program, which continues to operate unabated. Nor any mention of Hezbollah, whose fighters, under Iranian orders, continue helping the Syrian army drop oil drums on the civilian population in Idlib; the rebels in Yemen, who are raining missiles on Saudi Arabia; or the pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq, who are preparing to attack American forces stationed there if and when a conflict erupts between Iran and the US

The British in particular and the Europeans in general didn't need the information from Israel to understand that Hezbollah is the tip of Iran's terrorist spear, not just in the Middle East but across the globe. Anyone who wants to stop the Iranians must also handle their messenger.

Tags: Irannuclear dealnuclear programU.S.U.S. sanctions

Related Posts

US army sends message to Iran - with quote from 'Harbu Darbu'IDF Spokesperson's Unit

What an Israeli strike on Iran might look like

by Yoav Limor

If Israel ultimately decides to strike Iran, the range of potential scenarios spans from a complete obliteration of Tehran’s nuclear...

India and Pakistan on brink of war: How the region edged toward nuclear escalationAFP

India and Pakistan on brink of war: How the region edged toward nuclear escalation

by Elchanan Shpayizer/Makor Rishon

A deadly terror attack in Kashmir has reignited one of the world’s most volatile conflicts. What triggered the latest flare-up,...

Eight tough questions about Trump's Gaza takeover planReuters

All the reasons Israel doesn't want US control over Gaza

by Nitzan David Fuchs/Makor Rishon

Trump’s plan may sound tempting, but if our greatest ally becomes our next-door neighbor, relations could sour quickly.

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il