Expected Iranian nuclear deal even worse than Israel feared – Netanyahu

JERUSALEM- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned on Sunday the framework Iranian nuclear agreement being sought by international negotiators, saying it was even worse than his country had feared.

Israel has campaigned against the talks, arguing that they would ease sanctions on Tehran while leaving it with the basic infrastructure necessary to build a nuclear bomb. The Iranians say their nuclear programme is peaceful.

"This deal, as it appears to be emerging, bears out all of our fears, and even more than that," Netanyahu told his cabinet in Jerusalem as six world powers and Iran worked toward a March 31 deadline in the Swiss resort of Lausanne.

Noting advances made by Iranian-allied forces in Yemen and other Arab countries, Netanyahu accused the Islamic republic of trying to "conquer the entire Middle East" while moving toward nuclearisation.

"The Iran-Lausanne-Yemen axis is very dangerous to humanity, and must be stopped," he said.