Netanyahu, Hammond Spar Over Iran Deal

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly argued over the nuclear deal reached between Iran and major world powers.

Speaking to journalists in Jerusalem ahead of a private meeting on July 16, Netanyahu said the nuclear deal’s failure to address Iran’s calls to annihilate Israel was "perplexing."

Hammond responded that the deal is limited to Iran’s nuclear activities.

Netanyahu, who earlier in the week called the deal "a bad mistake of historic proportions," said the gradual lifting of sanctions agreed on will allow Iran to instigate “more terrorism.”

Ahead of his visit to Israel, Hammond told the British parliament that “Israel doesn't want any deal with Iran. Israel wants a permanent state of standoff and I don't believe that's in the interests of the region.”

Based on reporting by AP