Kerry to visit Israel over Iran deal
US Secretary of State John Kerry meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem in this file photo - (Reuters) Reuters

US Secretary of State John Kerry is to visit Israel this week to reassure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as western powers continue to inch towards a nuclear deal with Iran.

Kerry will meet Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.

"We [French President Francois Holland and I] will discuss [Iran] at the head of the many issues on the agenda. I will do the same with President Putin in my visit to Moscow on Wednesday (20 November) and I will do the same with John Kerry, who is coming here on Friday," said Netanyahu.

The Israeli leader has criticised the US for refusing to adopt a hard line on Iran.

Kerry will visit Israel when the P5+1 powers (Britain, France, China, Russia, Germany and the US) hold fresh talks with Iran on Wednesday. The previous round of talks in Geneva failed to achieve a breakthrough, but delegates from both sides said that a deal was still possible.

During his Israeli tour, Kerry will be on standby to fly to Geneva to sign the final agreement with Iran, if the talks yield a positive outcome.

China Germany Russia Israel