Israeli action against Iran would be 'huge mistake': Kerry

US Secretary says a military or cyber attack on Tehran would be an enormous mistake with grave consequences for Israel

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday it would be a huge mistake if Israel decided to take unilateral military action against Iran over its nuclear program in the future.

Kerry was asked in an NBC "Today" show interview if the nuclear deal reached last week between would make it more likely that Israel might attempt a military or cyber attack on Tehran.

"That'd be an enormous mistake, a huge mistake with grave consequences for Israel and for the region, and I don't think it's necessary," Kerry said.

Read: Pentagon chief meets Israel PM to discuss tensions over Iran deal

The moves comes three days after US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to ease tensions over the Iran nuclear deal, as the Israeli leader urged lawmakers in Washington to reject the hard-won agreement.

The two men greeted each other with a long handshake before entering the meeting that lasted nearly two hours, making no comment about the tensions over the nuclear accord that Netanyahu has harshly condemned.

Read: Iran will be judged by its actions, Kerry tells Israel

Their meeting came on the final day of Carter’s visit to Israel, the first stop on a regional tour aimed at reassuring US allies in the region who have concerns over the Iran deal.