Boehner defies Obama on Iran sanctions, invites Netanyahu

WASHINGTON – Defying President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner announced Wednesday that he’s invited Israel’s prime minister to stand before Congress and push for new sanctions against its archenemy Iran.

Boehner’s decision to bring Benjamin Netanyahu before a joint meeting of Congress on Feb. 11 seemed to catch the White House by surprise. And it added fuel to a drive by lawmakers from both parties to pass legislation calling for fresh penalties if there is no deal soon to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.

Barely sworn in, the new Republican-controlled Congress is already on a collision course with Obama over a major foreign policy issue. Obama has threatened to veto any new sanctions legislation, saying it could scuttle ongoing nuclear talks with Iran and heighten the risk of a military showdown.

Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday quoted an unidentified Israeli intelligence official as saying that adding sanctions now “would be like throwing a grenade into the process.”

But Boehner is not backing down. He told a private meeting of GOP lawmakers that Congress would proceed on further penalties against Iran despite Obama’s warning.

“He expects us to stand idly by and do nothing while he cuts a bad deal with Iran,” Boehner said. “Two words: ‘Hell no!’ … We’re going to do no such thing.”

The Democrats’ House leader, Nancy Pelosi of California, strongly disagreed. She said Obama has had diplomatic success in bringing countries together for the current economic sanctions aimed at stopping Iran’s nuclear program. She said it would be “irresponsible” for Congress to impose new penalties that “could undermine the negotiations and undermine the diplomatic coalition that is there – the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany.”

The White House said Boehner’s invitation also was a breach of diplomatic protocol. Traditionally, no administration would learn about a foreign leader’s plan to visit the United States from the speaker of the House, said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

Boehner said: “I don’t believe I am poking anyone in the eye.”

The invitation was a coordinated effort involving Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell with staff discussions beginning last year, according to a senior Republican aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Boehner contacted the Israeli ambassador on Jan. 8 to assess Netanyahu’s interest and received a positive response.