Israel's Netanyahu says sanctions should remain on Iran

JERUSALEM (AP) — As the international community moves to finalize a nuclear deal with Iran, Israel's prime minister says crippling sanctions should be maintained against the Islamic Republic until the country ends its regional "aggression."

Benjamin Netanyahu has harshly criticized the U.S.-led framework deal with Iran, which offers relief from sanctions in exchange for scaling back its suspect nuclear program.

Netanyahu said Sunday that a better deal would tie the lifting of all sanctions, "to an end of Iran's aggression in the region, its worldwide terrorism and its threats to annihilate Israel." Iran demands that all sanctions be lifted on the day the agreement goes into effect.

Iran backs regional militant groups that fight Israel, including Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as forces fighting in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

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