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Wednesday, 4 March 2015

Obama: Netanyahu Offered No ’Viable Alternative’ to Iran Talks

Local Editor

US President Barack Obama said there was "nothing new" in Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial speech to Congress Tuesday, insisting the Israeli Prime Minister did not offer a better alternative to negotiations.

Netanyahu "did not offer any viable alternative," Obama said speaking from the Oval Office. "We don't yet have a deal. But if we are successful, this will be the best deal possible with Iran to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon."


Source: AFP	03-03-2015 - 21:55 Last updated 03-03-2015 - 21:55

Netanyahu Provokes Congress against Obama over Nuclear Deal with Iran

Local Editor

The Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Tuesday the US Congress on the nuclear deal between Iran and the Western powers, calling on Obama's administration to refrain from signing the "bad" agreement.

“My friends, we’ve been told for over a year that no deal is better than a bad deal. Well this is a bad deal, a very bad deal. We’re better off without it,” Netanyahu said.

He also denied that “the only alternative to this deal is war.”

“The alternative to this deal is a much better deal. A better deal that doesn’t leave Iran with a vast nuclear infrastructure and such a short breakout point.”
Netanyahu’s controversial speech started on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. (local time). He was invited by US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner hours after President Barack Obama threatened to veto any sanctions legislation against Iran during his State of the Union address on January 20.

Top White House officials as well as dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted Netanyahu’s address.

“I know that no matter which side of the aisle you sit, you stand with Israel,” he told members of Congress.

“A remarkable alliance between Israel and the United States has always been above politics and it must always remain above politics. Because America and Israel, we share a common destiny,” he added.

“Israel is grateful for the support of American people and of American presidents, from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.”

Elsewhere, in his remarks, he said, “We must all stand together to stop Iran’s march of conquest, subjugation and terror.”

He said that the deal the US and other countries are negotiating with Iran will benefit the Islamic Republic.

Netanyahu accused the US of negotiating a “so bad deal” with Iran.

He said that the nuclear agreement would provide Iran “with a short breakout time for a bomb.”

“According to the deal not a single [facility] would be demolished… because Iran’s [facilities] would be left largely intact,” he said.

“True, certain restrictions would be imposed on Iran’s nuclear program, and Iran’s adherence to those restrictions would be [monitored by international inspectors],” he added. “Inspectors document those restrictions, they don’t stop them.”

“So this deal won’t change Iran for the better, it will only change the Middle East for the worst. … It will then spark a nuclear arms race … It won’t be a farewell to arms, it will be a farewell to arms control! And the Middle East will soon be crisscrossed with nuclear tripwire,” he noted.

“First, stop its aggression against its neighbors in the Middle East. Second, stop supporting terrorism around the world. And third, stop threatening to annihilate my country Israel!”