US Secretary of State John Kerry issued a veiled jab at Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Tuesday, saying that those voicing their opposition to deal being negotiated with Iran over its nuclear program are "uninformed."
"The President has made clear - I can't state this more firmly: the policy is Iran will not get a nuclear weapon. Anybody running around right now, jumping to say well, we don't like the deal, or this or that, doesn't know what the deal is. There is no deal yet," Kerry told a Congressional hearing Tuesday.
"I caution people to wait and see what these negotiations produce. Since 2013 we have been testing whether or not we can achieve that goal diplomatically. I don't know yet. But it's the most effective way to solve the problem and we will prove that over the course of these next weeks and months," he insisted.
"The P5+1 talks have made inroads since the Joint Plan of Action. We've halted the progress of Tehran's nuclear program. We've gained unprecedented insight into it and we expect to know soon whether or not Iran is willing to put together an acceptable and verifiable plan."
Watch - John Kerry tells Congressional committee: 'Iran will not get a nuclear weapon'
His comments followed a statement by Netanyahu earlier today in which the PM said information he'd received showed a looming deal between Iran and world powers would allow the Islamic Republic to reach the nuclear threshold.
"To my regret, the information which has reached me in recent days greatly strengthens our concerns regarding the agreement being formulated between the major powers and Iran," Netanyahu said during a tour of the IDF's Southern Command HQ.
"This agreement, if indeed it is signed, will allow Iran to become a nuclear threshold state. That is, with the consent of the major powers, Iran – which openly declares its intention to destroy the State of Israel – will receive a license to develop the production of bombs.
"This is a bad agreement that endangers our future."
That threat, he insisted, was why he would not be deterred from speaking to Congress later this month.
"It is my obligation as Prime Minister to do everything that I can to prevent this agreement; therefore, I will go to Washington to address the American Congress because the American Congress is likely to be the final brake before the agreement between the major powers and Iran," Netanyahu said.