Norway was slammed for its absurd double standards when, on the same day it announced the imposition of sanctions on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, law-abiding citizens, it welcomed the foreign minister of Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of terror, with open arms.

Norway joined the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in the unprecedented step of imposing sanctions on senior government members of the only democracy in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Norway is hosting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oslo, where he was invited to speak at the 22nd Oslo Forum and has meetings scheduled with senior officials from Norway and other countries.

Norway greeted Aragchi with a full red-carpet treatment, hosting him at Oslo’s Grand Hotel, where leaders of major powers have stayed, including former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar refused to speak with his British counterpart, David Lammy, when the latter called on Tuesday evening to “update him” on the decision to impose sanctions on Ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

According to a Ynet report, Sa’ar’s refusal is considered a highly unusual move due to the close alliance between Israel and the UK.

But the Foreign Ministry explained that the move was taken in response to the British move, which was “unprecedented in its severity.”

The Trump administration on Tuesday slammed the sanctions as “extremely unhelpful,” with State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce saying, “They should focus on the real culprit, which is Hamas.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)