Israeli PM continues to attack Iran deal, charging it "risks the world"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Tuesday in Jerusalem with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi, continuing his criticism on the nuclear deal between the world powers and Tehran.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Netanyahu said the "deal with Iran poses serious risks to Israel, the Middle East, Europe and the entire world."

Netanyahu, a fierce opponent of the deal, noted that this warning was at the focus of his meeting earlier today with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.

He reiterated that the deal is a "historic mistake," charging that lifting the sanctions on Iran means "hundreds of billions of dollars to bankroll its aggression in the region."

He added that Israel is particularly concerned by funds that Iran could supply to its proxies, such as the Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and Gaza's Hamas, both are sworn enemies of Israel.

Netanyahu also thanked Renzi for Italy's "unequivocal opposition to anti-Semitism and support for Israel's right to live in peace."

Renzi pledged to continue fighting anti-Semitism, but said that Israel and Italy "have different positions about the Iran deal," adding that Rome believes the deal is a good compromise that will curb Iran's nuclear program.

Renzi, who arrived in Israel on Monday, is scheduled to address the Knesset (parliament) plenum on Wednesday.

The agreement announced last Tuesday in Vienna between Iran and the P5+1 (the U.S., Britain, China, Germany, France and Russia) puts Iran on a path of sanctions relief but imposes stricter limits on its nuclear program. Endit