The Israeli prime minister has warned that a deal under discussion on Iran's nuclear programme could "pave its way to the bomb", rather than block it.

In a speech to US Congress punctuated by standing ovations, Benjamin Netanyahu depicted Iran as a "threat to the entire world".

Talks on Iran's nuclear programme are nearing a critical late-March deadline for an outline agreement to be reached.

It also comes just two weeks before a closely fought election in Israel.

Mr Netanyahu insisted that he was not trying to meddle in internal US politics.

The White House had criticised his plan to address Congress - at Republican invitation, without consulting the White House - saying the Israeli leader was trying to swell US opposition to any Iran deal.

The US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China are seeking to reach agreement to curtail Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

They fear Iran has ambitions to build a nuclear bomb - something Iran denies, insisting it is merely exercising its right to peaceful nuclear power.

Negotiators are currently working towards a late-March deadline for an outline agreement with Iran, which would be followed by a detailed deal by the end of June.

But Mr Netanyahu said: "We've been told that no deal is better than a bad deal. Well this is a bad deal, a very bad deal."
'March of conquest'

Mr Netanyahu was greeted with whoops and cheers as he made his way to the podium, shaking hands as he went.

The speech that followed was classic Netanyahu - mixing the politics of fear and the politics of bravery in adversity, says the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen.

Mr Netanyahu insisted the Israel-US relationship "must remain above politics" and that he was "grateful for the support of the American people".

But he quickly went on to the meat of his speech, saying Iran had proven time and time again that it could not be trusted.

The country was on a "march of conquest, subjugation and terror", he said.

"Iran's regime is as radical as ever, the ideology is deeply rooted in militant Islam... it will always be an enemy of US".

Its participation in the battle against Islamic State did not make it a friend, he said: "This enemy of your enemy is your enemy."

BBC