Israel hails U.S. congress gaining say on Iran deal

Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said Wednesday Israel is pleased with a compromise reached between the U.S. administration and Congress, giving the latter a say on a future nuclear deal with Iran.

"We are certainly happy with this achievement for Israel's policy," Steinitz told Israel Radio in an interview Wednesday morning.

The minister, who is a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, credited the prime minister's speech in front of congress in early March against the upcoming deal as an influential factor over the formation of the bill.

"Netanyahu's speech in Congress was decisive in reaching this law, which is an important element in preventing a bad deal and making it more reasonable," Steinitz said.

Steinitz added that the bill would constitute as another factor that would prevent a bad deal from being formed by the end of June.

"This is more pressure and another barrier in the face of a bad agreement and therefore the administration and negotiations team will make more efforts to achieve an agreement that looks better," Steinitz told the radio.

A Senate panel on Tuesday approved a bill demanding a congressional review of any nuclear deal the Obama administration inks with Iran by the end of June.

The new bill, while blocking President Barack Obama from lifting the sanctions on Iran during the review period, reduces the period to 52 days from the original 60 days, and allows the president to submit the accord after the June deadline for concluding the negotiations.

Obama, who has threatened to veto the draft bill, is willing to sign the new one, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday.

The P5+1 countries and Iran reached a framework agreement earlier this month and are set to ink a final deal by June 30.

Israeli officials are against the framework agreement, which they claim is a "very bad deal." Edit