Israel PM in US to warn on risks of Iran nuclear deal

Defying US president Barack Obama, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Washington to warn Congress about the risks of a possible nuclear deal with Iran in a speech that has imperilled ties between the two allies.

Israel fears that Obama’s Iran diplomacy, with an end-of-March deadline for a framework accord, will allow its arch foe to develop atomic weapons — something Tehran denies seeking.

By accepting an invitation from the Republican party to address Congress today, the Israeli leader infuriated the Obama administration, which said it was not told of the speech before plans were made public in an apparent protocol breach.