Mossad's Opposition to Netanyahu on Increased Sanctions Against Iran

Bloomberg news network reported a disagreement between Israel's foreign intelligence agency (Mossad) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding further sanctions against Iran. According to a report published by Bloomberg on Wednesday, January 21, Mossad officials told U.S. lawmakers and officials that the approval of additional sanctions against Iran in Congress would destroy the nuclear talks between world powers and the Islamic Republic. Mossad officials expressed their opposition to the Obama administration and several U.S. senators regarding the proposal by Republican Senator Mark Kirk and Democratic Senator Robert Menendez to impose further sanctions against Iran in the event of a failure in nuclear negotiations. This comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman strongly support this proposal. Bloomberg referenced comments made last Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who stated that an Israeli intelligence official described the approval of new sanctions against Iran as 'throwing a grenade into the negotiation process.' According to the report, senior Mossad officials also warned a delegation of senior U.S. Congress representatives during a meeting last week about this issue. Bloomberg added that when Senator Menendez became aware of this matter, he contacted Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., to verify the facts. John Barrasso, an American senator who was in Israel last week, emphasized that there is 'no unified view' on this matter in Israel. Disagreement between the White House and Congress over inviting Netanyahu John Boehner, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, opposing Barack Obama's policies regarding the Iranian nuclear dispute, announced that he has invited the Israeli Prime Minister to speak about 'Tehran's threats and extremist Islamism' in the U.S. Congress. However, a White House spokesperson stated that according to ceremonial protocol, it is the leader of a country who should invite the leader of another country, and the U.S. President has not invited Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel. The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, January 21, based on John Boehner's office report, that he emphasized in a meeting with Republican representatives in Congress that despite Mr. Obama's warnings, Congress should impose new sanctions against Iran. The report states that in John Boehner's invitation for Benjamin Netanyahu to speak in the U.S. Congress, the date of February 11, corresponding to Bahman 22, has been set. In this context, Obama stated that new sanctions against Iran would guarantee the failure of diplomacy.