Israel urging EU parliamentarians to cancel planned visit to Iran: report

TEHRAN,Oct.18(MNA) – Israel is reportedly trying to persuade a group of 15 European legislators from seven countries to cancel a planned visit to Tehran later this month, the Times of Israel reported on Wednesday. Iranian media outlets reported on Monday that the 15 members of the European Parliament were planning a visit. Israeli media outlets said on Tuesday that Israel was working to have the visit canceled. It was reported that the 15 EU legislators would begin a six-day visit on October 27. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Tuesday with European ambassadors to Israel, and praised the latest EU sanctions on Iran while saying that sanctions had not yet prompted Iran to halt its nuclear drive. Israel tried unsuccessfully earlier this summer to discourage nations from participating in a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran, and Netanyahu personally implored United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon not to attend but was rebuffed.