US Official: Netanyahu ‘Desperate’ in Opposition to Iran Deal

Warns Netanyahu's Position Is Costing Him Support

Israel’s Channel 10 news has quoted an unnamed “senior White House official” as warning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s shrill opposition to the P5+1 deal with Iran is coming off as “weak and desperate,” and that the administration is viewing his position as of “no great concern.”

The official also acknowledged Netanyahu’s attempts to court the US Congress in an attempt to kill the deal, but insisted they were likewise not particularly concerned he could pull that off, warning Netanyahu is losing support and relevance by his constant complaining.

Netanyahu shrugged off the comments as well as others from Israeli opposition figures warning he is harming the nation’s international standing, saying he believes Israel’s “security is at stake” by the deal and he won’t remain silent.

Netanyahu has insisted the deal was an “historic mistake” and that Israel doesn’t feel bound by it. This has sparked warnings from multiple P5+1 nations not to do anything to undermine the pact.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.