US SENATOR: OPPOSING IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL CAN BACKFIRE ON NETANYAHU

Washington, 17 Jumadil Akhir 1436/6 April 2015 (MINA) – US Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about consequences of opposing against a recent nuclear agreement with Iran.

“This can back backfire on him,” Feinstein told CNN on Sunday.

“I wish that he [Netanyahu] would contain himself, because he has put out no real alternative. In his speech to the Congress, no real alternative. Since then, no real alternative,” she added, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

A landmark framework agreement was reached between Iran and the P5+1 group – the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – in Switzerland on April 2.

The two sides issued a joint statement at the end of eight days of nuclear negotiations in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Thursday. They will work to draw up a final accord by the end of the June 30 deadline.

Netanyahu, however, criticized the framework agreement and said if the outline of the agreement becomes finalized, it would threaten the survival of Israel.

The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee rejected the Israeli leader’s remarks.

“I don’t think it’s helpful for Israel to come out and oppose this one opportunity to change a major dynamic, which is downhill — a downhill dynamic in this part of the world,” Feinstein said.

“It’s a better agreement, candidly, than I thought it was ever going to be,” she said.

President Barack Obama said in his weekly address on Saturday that diplomacy was the best option with Iran, adding he expects a “robust debate” in the United States to win over skeptics of the framework nuclear agreement.

“As President and Commander in Chief, I firmly believe that the diplomatic option — a comprehensive, long-term deal like this — is by far the best option,” Obama said. (T/P008/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)