(dpa) - Secretary of State John Kerry says that the prime minister of Israel is welcome to speak to America anytime.But it is "unusual to learn of the invitation from the speaker's office," Kerry says.
He was referring to the announcement by John Boehner, speaker of the US House of Representatives, that he had invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak next month to Congress.
The Republican-controlled Congress is pushing for new sanctions against Iran, and the invitation to Netanyahu was seen as part of that effort.
Kerry warns that a unilateral move by the US on sanctions could topple the carefully negotiated sanctions regime now supported by China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany.