Iran should agree to freeze

US President Barack Obama has said that Iran should agree to freeze sensitive nuclear activity for at least a decade if it wants to strike a deal with the US. However, the odds are against talks with Iran ending with an agreement, Mr Obama told Reuters news agency. Negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme are at a critical stage, with an outline agreement due on 31 March. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to urge the US Congress on Tuesday to oppose a deal. He was invited to speak at the US Capitol by Republican House Speaker John Boehner, angering Democrats. Mr Netanyahu - who faces domestic elections in two weeks' time - will not meet Mr Obama during his visit to the US. The US, along with the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China, are seeking to reach agreement to curtail Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. They are trying to address concerns that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons technology, something Tehran denies.