Benjamin Netanyahu rips possible U.S. nuclear deal with Iran during speech to Congress

'It's a very bad deal' Bibi blew away Congress but got blasted by President Obama.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a controversial speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday to deliver a scathing denunciation of U.S. efforts to cut a deal restricting Iran’s nuclear program.

“That deal will not prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” he said. “It would all but guarantee Iran gets those weapons.

“It is a very bad deal,” he added, warning that “the greatest danger facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons.”

The President struck right back — and didn’t mince his words.

Obama, who said he didn’t watch the speech but read a transcript, said a couple of hours after the speech that it contained “nothing new.”

“The prime minister didn’t offer any viable alternative,” Obama said. “The alternative the prime minister offers is no deal, in which case Iran will immediately begin once again to pursue a nuclear program, accelerate its nuclear program, without us having any insight into what they’re doing and without constraints.”

Addressing a packed House chamber, Netanyahu drew raucous cheers and repeated standing ovations for a speech that piled up rhetorical flourishes amid a sprinkle of factual claims.

Netanyahu said the deal negotiators are trying to hammer out in Switzerland by the end of the month would leave Iran’s “vast nuclear infrastructure,” including uranium-enriching centrifuges, in place.

Iran would be left able to quickly build a bomb if diplomacy broke down, he said.

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Netanyahu said the inspections regime the deal would impose is too lax, giving Iran room to cheat.

He portrayed Iran as a powerful, expansionist power “gobbling up” regional influence.

But he called its rulers vulnerable if Western powers insist on a deal that rolls back Iran’s capability to develop both civilian nuclear power and potential bomb-making ability.

If Teheran threatens “to walk away from the table, call their bluff,” he told Congress. “They’ll be back, because they need this deal a lot more than you do.”

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Netanyahu renewed a threat of unilateral Israeli action against Iran.

“The days when the Jewish people remained passive in the face of genocidal enemies, those days are over,” he said to loud cheers.

“Even if Israel has to stand alone, Israel will stand.”

The address, delivered amid tight security, was more anticipated than any speech by a foreign leader in recent memory.

“I know that my speech has been the subject of much controversy,” Netanyahu said. “I deeply regret that some perceive my being here as political. That was never my intention.”

Lawmakers swooned.

“It was a very powerful message,” said Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Westchester).