Deal may legitimize Iran’s policies – Rivlin

Israel fears the nuclear agreement with Iran “is a first step in the legitimization of Iran’s policies and strategies, and only acts to further destabilize a chaotic region,” President Reuven Rivlin tells a visiting delegation of Democratic lawmakers from the United States.

“Along with Israelis on all sides of the political spectrum; I am deeply concerned about the recent nuclear deal signed with Iran. The current Iranian regime acts with a dangerous combination of aggressiveness, fundamentalism and state-sponsored terrorism – threatening, even without nuclear weapons, freedom and democracy in this region and around the world.”

The delegation was arranged by AIPAC, which is advocating against the White House-backed deal.

The visit was a message of unity even as the Israeli and American governments disagree vehemently over Obama’s Iran policy, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) says at the meeting.

“We think it is critical now more than ever to let it be known by those who would undermine democracies, those that would undermine free peoples, that we are united and not divided,” says Hoyer.

Rivlin tells the lawmakers that the current disagreements won’t change the US-Israel alliance.

“We must not be alarmed by disagreements when they come up. Whatever Congress decides, it will be your decision as representatives of the American people. We, as your allies and partners, must make sure that whatever the result of this vote, our strategic alliance stands, and grows even stronger.”