Netanyahu: Iran ‘threatens the world,’ ‘responsible nations’ should issue new sanctions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday that he hopes "responsible nations" will issue new sanctions against Iran, as the United States has done.

The Trump administration announced new sanctions against Iran Friday following the country’s recent ballistic missile test, calling the country “the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.”

During remarks in London prior to his meeting with May, Netanyahu said Israel faces challenges from “militant Islam” and from Iran.

"Iran seeks to annihilate Israel, it says so openly,” Netanyahu said. “It seeks to conquer the Middle East, it threatens Europe, it threatens the West, it threatens the world. And it offers provocation after provocation.”

Netanyahu said “that's why I welcome President Trump's insistence on new sanctions against Iran.”

“I think other nations should follow suit, certainly responsible nations, and I'd like to talk to you about how we can ensure Iran's aggression does not go unanswered," he said, adding that he and his country share a “desire for peace” with the British people.

A Downing Street spokesperson told CNN that Britain is concerned about Iran's recent missile test.

"It was discussed at the UN and we made clear our position," the spokesperson said. "With regard to the specific agreement relating to the nuclear weapons ... it's important that it is very carefully and rigorously policed. We should also be clear that it has neutralized the possibility of the Iranians acquiring nuclear weapons for more than a decade."

The Independent called Netanyahu’s use of the so-called "warm words" between the two leaders in front of the cameras to make his case against Iran an “unusual step.”