(JNS) Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen landed in London on Tuesday for a visit aimed at pressing Jerusalem’s position on the Iranian threat and bolstering bilateral economic ties.
“I have just landed in the U.K. on an important visit. I will meet with my counterpart, British Foreign Secretary [James] Cleverly, and discuss with him ways to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” Cohen wrote on Twitter.
“I’m also leading a delegation of fintech companies, with the aim of strengthening economic ties between the countries. Together with the foreign secretary, I will sign an agreement strengthening the bilateral relationship with one of Israel’s greatest allies,” he added.
I have just landed in the UK on an important visit. I will meet with my counterpart, British Foreign Secretary Cleverly, and discuss with him ways to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. I'm also leading a delegation of fintech companies, >>
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) March 21, 2023
With respect to Iran, U.K. Security Minister Tom Tugendhat confirmed late last month that Tehran was "mapping" Jewish leaders.
“Between 2020 and 2022, Iran tried to collect intelligence on Israeli and U.K.-based Jewish individuals,” said Tugendhat before the House of Commons. “We believe this information was a preparation for future lethal operations.”
He added that since 2022, authorities have foiled 15 credible Iranian threats to kill or kidnap people in the United Kingdom.
Later this year, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intends to visit Israel to mark the country’s 75th birthday.
Sunak spoke in January with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who thanked him for London’s vote against a U.N. General Assembly resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to “render urgently an advisory opinion” on Israel’s “prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of Palestinian territory.”
Netanyahu also commended Britain’s intention to declare Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation, stressing the importance Jerusalem ascribes to advancing the issue.
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