Update - Netanyahu Slams Potential Iran Deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assailed a prospective nuclear deal with Iran in defiance of the Obama administration's ongoing negotiating efforts, telling Congress Tuesday, "We're better off" without a deal.



"This is a bad deal. It's a very bad deal. We're better off without it," Netanyahu said to thunderous applause – one of more than 40 outbursts. "It doesn't block Iran's path to a bomb, it paves Iran's path to a bomb."



Netanyahu's address came just hours after Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Zarif, in Switzerland to continue talks ahead of a critical deadline.



Despite the Israeli prime minister's opposition, the administration has maintained that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed," and negotiators from the P5+1 group of world powers – the U.S., China, France, UK, Russia, plus Germany, have until the end of the month to hammer out a political framework agreement with Iran.



A final deadline for a comprehensive accord is set for the end of June.



"Iran has proven time and again that it cannot be trusted," Netanyahu warned, voicing concerns about two alleged provisions to a deal: leaving Iran's nuclear infrastructure intact and allowing restrictions on its program to expire in about a decade.



Neither of those details have been confirmed by either the P5+1, its member states, or Iran.



Still, he insisted a deal with Iran would lead to a "countdown to a potential nuclear nightmare."



"This deal won't be a farewell to arms. It would be a farewell to arms control. And the Middle East would soon be crisscrossed by nuclear tripwires," Netanyahu said.



The prime minister's speech follows a controversial invite from House Speaker John Boehner who did not notify the Obama administration, stoking tensions between the two allies. President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry all did not meet Netanyahu during his trip to Washington. Biden and Kerry are on foreign travel, and Obama has said he would not meet with Netanyahu due to his visit's proximity to Israel's March 17 elections.



More than 50 Democratic lawmakers boycotted Netanyahu's speech, and if he were in Washington, Biden would have been seated behind Netanyahu. The seats of lawmakers who skipped the address were taken by seat fillers, and in the case of Biden, Sen. Orrin Hatch.



"I deeply regret that some perceive my being here as political," Netanyahu said before thanking Obama for assistance that he has provided since becoming president. 



Outside of the Capitol, where Netanyahu delivered the speech, dozens of protesters called on lawmakers to resist Netanyahu's calls. "How many nuclear weapons does Israel have?," they chanted.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Washington DC