TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel's military chief says the Iranian nuclear deal and the lifting of sanctions that followed present Israel with "grave dangers but also opportunities."

Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot didn't specify what upsides he sees for Israel but his remarks are unusual as Israeli authorities have greeted the deal with trepidation. Israel has been the fiercest critic of the deal.

He spoke at the annual conference of the Institute for National Security Studies, a top Israeli think-tank.

Eisenkot says the deal marks a strategic turning point for Israel. He estimated that Iran will try to keep its part of the deal in the coming years to reap the benefits of the lifting of sanctions but that Tehran will also continue its aggression toward Israel through proxies, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas.