US stands behind Israel’s security, Kerry tells Netanyahu

US Secretary of State John Kerry reemphasized Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security and its disapproval of Iranian actions that undermine the region’s stability, in a weekend phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the State Department said Tuesday.

“The secretary and the prime minister reiterated the need to continue pushing back on Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region, and he agreed to continue to have these discussions in the coming weeks,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday, according to Reuters.

“The secretary reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and continued military and security relationship,” Kirby added.

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday secured enough Democratic voices to ensure he can prevent a congressional vote proposing to strike down the nuclear deal reached with Iran in July.

Netanyahu strongly opposes the agreement, which he called a “historic mistake for the world.”

He has warned that money flowing to Iran as sanctions are lifted and accounts unfrozen under the deal will be used to fund terror attacks and proxy wars in the Middle East.

US officials have said they are seeking to discuss increasing military aid and cooperation to Israel, but Netanyahu has so far turned down the requests, reportedly afraid he will be seen as having made peace with the nuclear agreement.

Kerry and Netanyahu also discussed reports of a Russian increase in military aid to the Syrian regime, among other issues, Reuters reported.

The US secretary of state voiced his concerns over the reported military buildup to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov over the weekend, although Moscow and Damascus both denied the claims’ veracity Monday.

Times of Israel staff and AP contributed to this report.