PM’s speech on Iranian Revolution anniversary

The date Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of the US Congress is the 36th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, marking the day the shah’s regime fell.

The invitation for Netanyahu to speak to lawmakers on February 11 comes hours after Obama, in his State of the Union address, said he would veto any sanctions legislation.

The speech invitation also comes as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is working on legislation that would allow Congress to weigh in by allowing it to take an up-down vote on any deal the Obama administration reaches with Tehran. A committee hearing on Wednesday will focus on the status of the negotiations and the role of Congress.

Netanyahu’s speech would also take place just five weeks before the Israeli national elections, scheduled for March 17.

— AP contributed