Netanyahu pledges to keep fighting against Iran nukes

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Sunday to continue to fight against a possible Iranian nuclear weapon, less than a week after giving a controversial address before the US Congress.

Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that Israel would “continue to take all possible action to deny the largest terrorist state in the world the ability to produce the most dangerous weapon in the world, a weapon which is aimed – first and foremost – against us.”

Netanyahu also said that after his speech last Tuesday, “several of the major powers’ foreign ministers said that they do not see the need to reach an agreement forthwith and that they will wait until the right agreement is found. I hope that these words will find tangible expression.”

The prime minister emphasized that the “right agreement” would connect the lifting of the restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program with the end of Iranian terrorism and its threats against Israel.

“The right agreement is one that extends by years Iran’s breakout time to achieve a bomb, given the feasibility of violating the agreement.”

He also said that the emerging agreement between Tehran and the six world powers known as the P5+1, which he termed “a very bad deal” during his address, would allow Iran a breakout time of a year or less.

During his speech to US lawmakers, Netanyahu warned of the dangers posed by Tehran’s apparent pursuit of nuclear weapons, and said the emerging agreement “paves the path” for Iran to get a bomb.

US President Barack Obama said that Netanyahu offered no “viable alternatives” to the current negotiations in his speech.

“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,” Obama said.

Upon his return to Israel from his three-day trip to Washington, Netanyahu on Wednesday said that his speech was received “with great resonance.”

Netanyahu said Congress would likely be an “influencing and possibly even deciding” factor regarding any agreement with Iran.

“My remarks were received with great resonance in Congress, and that has particular importance at this time,” Netanyahu stated.

The invitation to Netanyahu to address Congress, extended by House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, triggered a political furor in the United States.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s opponents in Israel accused him of staging the speech as an campaign ploy.

AP and AFP contributed to this report.