Secretary of State John Kerry on Israeli television called criticism of the framework agreement with Iran “hysteria.”
“That is not a 10-year deal, that’s forever,” he said in an interview with Israel’s Channel 10. “There have to be inspections. There’s a lot of hysteria about this deal. People really need to look at the facts, look at the science of what is behind those facts.”
Excerpts of the interview were broadcast on May 2, with the full interview airing on May 3.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is strongly opposed to the emerging deal, which is set to be signed on June 30.
“We think that the goal of the Iran deal should not be just to reach any deal,” Netanyahu said after meeting May 3 with Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who is among the GOP lawmakers opposing the deal. Netanyahu appeared to aim his comments directly at Kerry and other Obama administration officials.
“We need a different deal, a better deal, and there are those who tell us that this will not endanger Israel,” Netanyahu said. “I have to tell you as the prime minister of Israel responsible for Israel’s security, it endangers Israel, it endangers the region, it endangers the world — the entire world, in my opinion.”
Kerry asserted in his interview that the United States has Israel’s back in the agreement and in the future. He said the U.S. would not allow Iran to create a nuclear weapon and would protect Israel’s security. — jta