Kerry in Saudi amid Congress debate on Iran
March 4, 2015, 6:47 pm

Netanyahu criticized Kerry and the Obama administration for what he called putting together a “bad dea” with Iran over its nuclear program [Xinhua]

Saudi Arabia has led a chorus of criticism against the White House’s plans to reach a deal with Iran over the latter’s nuclear program, believed by some – such as Israel – of being dangerously close to weaponization.

Kerry is hoping to convince Arab leaders that Iran would not be a threat should it be allowed to keep some of its enriched uranium.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who delivered a blistering speech critical of President Barack Obama’s Iran policy in Congress Tuesday, sees things rather differently.

“A bad deal,” Netanyahu said of the agreement Kerry – and the P5+1 – had been trying to reach with Iran.

The Israeli Prime Minister, who faces a general election on March 17, favors a more aggressive approach with Iranian leaders.

His warnings have not fallen on deaf ears.

On Wednesday, a Senate led by Republicans and their Majority Leader Mitch McConnell began pushing legislation that would give the body sign-off on any deal that could be reached between the White House and Tehran.

“We think it will help the administration from entering into a bad deal but if they do it, it will provide an opportunity for Congress to weigh in,” McConnell told reporters in statements carried by CNN.

Democrats say the legislation is premature and warn that any move that could be interpreted in Tehran as undue pressure could complicate upcoming talks between Kerry and his counterpart.

Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met in the Swiss town of Montreux early Wednesday, concluding three days of talks, before the former flew to Saudi Arabia.

This was the second round of talks since February 22, when the two diplomats convened along with teams of technical experts from both sides but failed to reach a deal.

Kerry and Zarif are to meet again on March 15 ahead of a deadline to reach a deal by the end of the month. If Iran, the US and the remaining members of the P5+1 fail to reach a deal by then, there is a possibility talks may be delayed for a year.

However, Democrats, such as National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, fear a Republican backlash in Washington that could derail the Obama administration’s entire Iran track.

The BRICS POST with inputs from Agencies