Netanyahu to push for delay in Iran's n-programme

Washington, March 2
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to lay out the details of what he understands to be the nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran, hoping it will prompt lawmakers to question the administration and delay the March 24 deadline for a political agreement.

A senior Israeli official travelling in Netanyahu's delegation to the US, who was not authorised to speak on record, said the Israeli government had "a good understanding of the agreement we can draw conclusions from", CNN reported.

"We know what we know. And believe me, we know a lot of information about this agreement," the official said aboard the flight to Washington.

"The prime minister is going to Congress to explain what they don't know about this agreement, that it is a bad agreement."

The official said Congress has "no understanding" of the deal shaping up. He described Netanyahu's scheduled speech in Congress a "last chance" to speak directly to Congressmen before a March 24 deadline for a political framework agreement about the elements believed to be in the deal.

The official suggested Netanyahu would urge lawmakers in his address on Tuesday to pressure the Obama administration to push the deadline so more discussion can take place about what he perceives is a dangerous deal that leaves Iran with the ability to develop a nuclear weapon down the line.

"There is no sacred date," the official said of the March 24 deadline.

"It can be put off. It is not fixed. They can change it."

The official said that as the March 24 deadline approaches, Netanyahu would warn Congressmen to "be careful of giving up compromises".

"They are compromises and they are not good," said the official.