AIPAC chief advises Israel lobby not to confront Obama over Iran

The president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has asked pro-Israel lobbyists and leaders in the US not to confront the Obama administration directly over the current interim deal with Iran.

In a conference call last week, Howard Kohr said instead of confrontation, pressure groups should focus on influencing the contours of a final agreement with Tehran and imposing more economic sanctions, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

AIPAC has not commented on the call, which was first revealed December 3, in a Zionist Organization of America news release criticizing AIPAC’s approach.

Kohr’s advice is in line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent policy shift.

The hawkish premier initially denounced the interim deal with Iran reached last month in Geneva as a “historic mistake.” However, he has significantly downplayed his unhappiness with the deal and is focused instead on the outcome of the six-month period established to reach a final accord over Iran’s nuclear energy program.

On November 24, Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, Russia, France, China, and Britain -- plus Germany sealed an agreement to lay the groundwork for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old nuclear dispute with Iran.

In exchange for Iran's confidence-building bid to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the United States and its allies have agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against the country.

However, some members of Congress, under the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC, seek to put more economic pressure on Tehran by introducing new sanctions legislation.