Netanyahu rejects Iran nuclear deal

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that he "utterly rejects" the emerging nuclear deal between western powers and Iran.

He called it a "bad deal" and promised that Israel will do everything it needs to do to defend itself.
Israel believes Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon, and says international pressure should be stepped up, not eased, to force Iran to dismantle its nuclear programme.
Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran, unilaterally if necessary, if he concludes that diplomatic pressure on Iran has failed.
He spoke before meeting US secretary of state John Kerry, who returned to Tel Aviv for a briefing before travelling to Switzerland to participate in nuclear talks with Iran.
Mr Kerry's decision to fly to Geneva comes after signs that global powers and Iran were close to a deal that would cap some of its suspected nuclear programme in exchange for limited relief from economic sanctions.
Mr Netanyahu said: "I understand the Iranians are walking around very satisfied in Geneva, as well they should because they got everything and paid nothing.
"They wanted relief of sanctions after years of gruelling sanctions, they got that. They paid nothing because they are not reducing in any way their nuclear enrichment capability. So Iran got the deal of the century and the international community got a bad deal.
"This is a very bad deal and Israel utterly rejects it. Israel is not obliged by this agreement and Israel will do everything it needs to do to defend itself and defend the security of its people."
Mr Kerry will go to Geneva to meet the European Union's top diplomat, Britain's Lady Ashton, and Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran to be an existential threat, citing hostile Iranian rhetoric toward the Jewish state, Iran's missile capabilities and its support for violent Middle Eastern militant groups.
Mr Netanyahu says pressure must be maintained until Iran halts all enrichment of uranium - a key step in producing a nuclear weapon - removes its stockpile of enriched uranium from the country, closes suspicious enrichment facilities and shutters a facility that could produce plutonium, another potential gateway to nuclear arms.

Despite Mr Netanyahu's warnings, there are growing signs that any international deal with Iran will fall short of his demands.

The Iranian nuclear programme will probably dominate today's meeting, overshadowing Mr Kerry's efforts to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

A senior state department official said Mr Kerry has been open to the possibility of travelling to Geneva for the talks "if it would help narrow differences".

Lady Ashton asked Mr Kerry to attend the latest round of discussions.

AP