Israel to discuss tougher Iran sanctions

AFP -- Israel's government will discuss the broadening of economic sanctions against Iran when it meets on Sunday, weeks after an Israeli firm was named in alleged illegal trade with Tehran.

"The government of Israel will on Sunday debate the expansion of economic sanctions against Iran, this is in the wake of the recommendations of the governmental committee set up for this purpose," a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

It said that on the table would be "a package of economic sanctions including a range of administrative and regulatory measures which will put Israel, with other states, at the head of the international effort in everything concerning sanctions against Iran."

Israel's Ofer Brothers Group owns a major international shipping business which is under investigation after being blacklisted by Washington last month for alleged trade with Tehran.

According to the US State Department, Ofer Brothers and its alleged subsidiary, the Singapore-based Tanker Pacific, were involved in selling a tanker to an Iranian firm under sanctions last September.

But the firm has consistently denied any wrongdoing, saying it had no ties to Tanker Pacific and that the State Department had made an "unfortunate mistake."

The allegations caused uproar in Israel, which has for years demanded that the international community take tough measures against Iran over its nuclear program, which Israel and many other countries suspect masks a weapons drive, despite Tehran's denials.

Ofer Brothers owner Sammy Ofer died on June 3, aged 89, after what a spokesman called "a difficult period of illness."