Nuclear deal with Iran worse than Israel feared: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday the emerging framework agreement over Iran's nuclear program was worse than Israel feared, amid reports of possible breakthrough in the talks between world powers and Iran.

"This agreement, as it appears to be emerging, confirms all of our concerns and even more so," Netanyahu said during his weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu held on Sunday a telephone talk with U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, following an earlier talk with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid over the weekend.

The Israeli prime minister said he had expressed "our deep concern over the agreement being formulated with Iran in the nuclear talks."

He charged that the recent developments in Yemen are part of the Islamic Republic's goal to "conquer the entire Middle East." Over the last days, Houthi fighters took over major parts of Yemen.

"The Iran-Lausanne-Yemen axis is very dangerous to humanity, and must be stopped," said Netanyahu.

The six world powers (the U.S., Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany) have been working in Switzerland toward the March 31 deadline for a preliminary deal.

Over the weekend, EU officials said a deal is "closer than ever," after Iran reportedly agreed to limit the centrifuges number at its main nuclear site to 6,000, or less.

Israel's hardliner prime minister has been a fervent opponent of the deal, arguing that a diplomatic agreement cannot stop Iran's alleged ambition to acquire nuclear bombs. Endit