'What’s important here is we stand with Israel firmly,' said Kerry. Kerry: U.S. '100 percent' with Israel

Facing growing congressional skepticism, Secretary of State John Kerry made reassurances Thursday that the United States is firmly allied with Israel in its negotiations with Iran.

“What’s important here is we stand with Israel firmly — 100 percent,” Kerry said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “There’s no distance between us about the danger of [Iran’s nuclear] program and the endgame for us is exactly the same.”


Kerry’s comments follow a briefing with lawmakers Wednesday about ongoing negotiations with Iran. The New York Times reported that members of Congress are critical of a deal that would ease sanctions, but Kerry defended this move saying, 95 percent or so will remain. He added that removing a portion of sanctions is necessary and “will actually make Israel safer.”

“You have to do something to make it worthwhile for [Iran] to say, ‘Yes, we are going to lock our program where it is today, actually roll it back,’” Kerry said.

Kerry emphasized the friendly and civil conversations he is having with Israeli President Benjamin Nentanyahu, saying they “all agree on the goal, we disagree on a tactic.”

The secretary of state disagreed with Israel’s strategy of increasing sanctions, a viewed shared by many in Congress. When asked about the disagreement with his former Senate colleagues, Kerry said that “every senator is entitled to be skeptical, entitled to ask tough questions” and he will continue to talk with senators in the next days.

But Kerry added the response from the Hill to increase sanctions could be detrimental in negotiating with Iran.

“Iran may interpret the congressional reaction of wanting to increase sanctions as bad faith on our part and unwillingness to in fact negotiate and it may drive the hard-liners more into the commitment that they have to have the weapon,” Kerry said.