Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Sunday took a shot at Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israeli prime minister should “contain himself” and stop publicly criticizing a preliminary nuclear deal struck between Iran, the U.S. and other international powers.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Ms. Feinstein, California Democrat and vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said the Israeli leader has not offered a viable alternative to the deal.
“I don’t think it’s helpful for Israel to come out and oppose this one opportunity” to slow Iran’s nuclear program, she said. “This can backfire on him. I wish he would contain himself, because he has put out no real alternative. In his speech to the Congress, no real alternative. Since then, no real alternative.”
Mr. Netanyahu has maintained that the U.S. and its partners should hold out for a better deal and should not lift economic sanctions on Tehran. He also has suggested sanctions should be ramped up to apply more pressure on Iran.
Ms. Feinstein said more sanctions will be counterproductive and will drive Iran’s nuclear program “underground,” where it will be much more difficult for international inspectors to keep tabs on what the nation is up to.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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