Israel rejects Kerry's warning on Iran nuclear deal

Israel rejected on Sunday a recent warning by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that if the Congress wound block the nuclear deal with Iran, the international community might blame Israel for the failure.

Israeli Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz told Israel's Walla news site that Israel will not be pressured to stop voicing its criticism of the deal.

"Israel will make its views clear on the Iranian nuclear issue, which is relevant to its security, and no one has the authority to intimidate us," said Steinitz.

He added that "criticism of the agreement in the U.S. in general and Congress in particular stems from the serious flaws and loopholes in the deal."

Kerry addressed on Friday the Council on Foreign Relations think tank in New York, saying that if the Congress will not endorse the agreement, "our friends in Israel could end up being more isolated and more blamed."

The Obama administration is on campaign to push for the nuclear deal signed in Vienna on July 14 between Iran and the world powers, the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia plus Germany. The deal puts Iran on a path of sanctions relief but imposes stricter limits on its nuclear program.

On Saturday, an unnamed senior Israeli official told the New York Times that Israel rejects the "threats" directed at it, adding that "the U.S. Congress will make its decision based on American interests, which include consideration of U.S. allies."

In an interview on NBC on Friday, Kerry said that if Israel were to attack Iran now, it would be "a huge mistake with grave consequences for Israel and for the region."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a long-time opponent of a diplomatic deal with Iran, said his country is not bounded by the agreement. Endit