Just before Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers his speech condemning the American nuclear talks with Iran, US Secretary of State John Kerry makes an attempt to ease the tension by saying that the US deserves the "benefit of the doubt" as negotiators.

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Kerry's move comes as Netanyahu arrives in Washington for Tuesday's address.

Had it only known earlier, the White House would have moved to keep the Israeli leader from speaking before the U.S. Congress. But it was the Republicans in the House, led by House Speaker John Boehner, who extended the invitation.

Netayahu's acceptance has also exposed the tensions between Israel and the United States, a situation that the Oval Office would have wanted to prevent.

In an interview before he arrived in Switzerland for a meeting with Iran's foreign minister, Kerry said Netanyahu is welcome to speak in the U.S. soil.

He also said the Obama administration does not want Netanyahu's visit to "turn into some great political football."

Kerry added that he had been in talks with Netanyahu, with the most recent happening last Saturday.

Netanyahu is on a mission to warn US lawmakers about the dangers of allowing Iran to develop its nuclear program, through a deal with the United States.

But Kerry wants to remind Netanyahu that his country also benefited from a short-term nuclear pact that world powers and Iran signed in 2013.

The Secretary of State guarantees that the commitments contained in the deal reached about a year and a half ago will also serve as the "standard" that US negotiators will apply to any accord with Tehran.

Under the current agreement that the United States and Iran are drafting, Iran's nuclear activities will be severely restricted for at least a decade. But these restrictions shall be eased in the final years of the deal.

"We are going to test whether or not diplomacy can prevent this weapon from being created, so you don't have to turn to additional measures, including the possibility of a military confrontation," Kerry said in a TV interview.

In his speech on Tuesday, Netanyahu is set to deliver his outright rejection of any diplomatic accommodation to Iran's nuclear program.

Netanyahu's adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "we are not here to offend President Obama, whom we respect very much. The Prime Minister is here to warn, in front of any stage possible, about the dangers of the agreement that may be taking place."

TagsKerry, Netanyahu