Iranian-US council says PM ‘dead wrong’

National Iranian American Council (NIAC) President Trita Parsi accuses Netanyahu of warmongering.

“Netanyahu was dead wrong on Iraq, and he is dead wrong on Iran,” Parsi asserts, citing a 2002 statement by Netanyahu to members of Congress regarding the potential benefits of declaring war on Iraq. “If Congress follows his lead and rejects a deal with Iran that peacefully prevents nuclear weapons, it could be an even greater foreign policy mistake than the Iraq invasion.”

Like others, Parsi criticizes Netanyahu for failing to offer “any realistic alternative” to the ongoing talks with Iran. “The reason is clear,” he continues. “There is no alternative to a peaceful, negotiated outcome with Iran.”

Parsi’s organization held a legislative action day on Monday during which activists contacted their representatives to encourage them not to attend the prime minister’s speech. According to NIAC, the organization deployed 65 teams in 26 states to lobby against attendance.

— Rebecca Shimoni-Stoil