Israel approves new Iran sanctions

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Israel’s government approved expanded economic sanctions against Iran.

The sanctions, which reportedly bring Israel in line with sanctions being imposed by other governments, were approved unanimously by the Cabinet at its regularly scheduled meeting Sunday.

The sanctions include the expansion of oversight and control over companies trading with Iran, as well as restricting state contact with companies that trade with Iran.

In order to advance the sanctions, Israel will declare Iran and bodies linked to it to be enemy elements.

A new national directorate will be established to enforce the sanctions, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The new sanctions come after a government committee reported in March that Israel’s current legislation was not tough enough.