A+ A-

Netanyahu speech on Iran offers "nothing new" - Obama

WASHINGTON, March 3 (KUNA) -- Reacting to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the Congress Tuesday, President Barack Obama said the speech contained "nothing new" and offered "no viable alternative" to ongoing talks with Iran aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
In remarks in the Oval Office prior to his meeting with Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Obama noted that he did not watch the speech, as he was on a video conference with European leaders with respect to Ukraine, but that he read a transcript of it.
Netanyahu "pointed out that Iran has been a dangerous regime and continues to engage in activities that are contrary to the interest of the United States, to Israel and to the region, and on that we agree," Obama said.
Netanyahu "also pointed out the fact that Iran has repeatedly threatened Israel and engaged in the most venomous of anti-Semitic statements, and no one can dispute that," the President said. But Obama made it clear that the negotiations between Iran and leading world powers remained the best way to possibly prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and said he would not sign a deal that was not verifiable in that regard. (pickup previous) rm.bs