U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is reaching out to Israelis in an attempt to pacify worries over the emerging nuclear deal with Iran.

In an interview with Israel's Channel 10 television station broadcast Sunday, Kerry said that President Barack Obama has "absolutely pledged" that Iran will not get a nuclear weapon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is one of the harshest critics the U.S.-led framework deal with Iran, which offers sanctions relief in exchange for scaling back its contested nuclear program.

Kerry said: "There is a lot of hysteria about this deal."

Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran to be an existential threat, citing hostile Iranian rhetoric toward the Jewish state, Iran's missile capabilities and its support for violent militant groups.

Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.