By JM Rieger and Steven T. Dennis

President Barack Obama repeatedly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Iran and his scheduled congressional address in March at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday. In addition to implying Netanyahu might be seeking political advantage speaking to a joint session of Congress, Obama took issue with Netanyahu’s policy views, particularly over whether to impose new sanctions now on Iran. “It does not make sense to sour the negotiations a month or two before they are about to be complete,” Obama said. “What’s the rush? Unless your view is it’s not possible to get a deal with Iran. … That I cannot agree with.”