DHAKA: US president Barack Obama has reacted scathingly to a speech by the Israeli prime minister that castigated his policy towards Iran.

In a speech to the US Congress, Benjamin Netanyahu warned that a deal under discussion on Iran’s nuclear program could ‘pave Iran’s path to the bomb’ rather than block it.

But Obama said Netanyahu had offered no viable alternative.

Other senior Democrats - and Iran - also criticized Netanyahu.

The Israeli leader’s visit was controversial from the start, because the Republican speaker invited him without consulting the White House.

The US president announced he would not meet Netanyahu, who is fighting in a closely contested national election in just two weeks’ time, reports the BBC.

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

BDST: 1210 HRS, MAR 04, 2015