The Toronto Star clarifies report about Netanyahu speech. Photo: YouTube screenshot.

The Toronto Star on Tuesday clarified a March 3, 2015 story about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent speech before a joint session of Congress.

The Star initially reported that Netanyahu “notably declined to outline an alternative way to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”

But after media watchdog Honest Reporting pointed out that the claim was incorrect, the Canadian publication was moved to walk back the report.

“According to a transcript of the speech, Netanyahu told Congress ‘the alternative to this bad deal is a much better deal’ that could be achieved by walking away, and continuing sanctions against Iran,” the Star informed readers.

“Iran’s nuclear program can be rolled back well-beyond the current proposal by insisting on a better deal and keeping up the pressure on a very vulnerable regime, especially given the recent collapse in the price of oil,” Netanyahu told Congress.

The Star’s initial claim seemed to parrot the Obama Administration’s assertion that Netanyahu offered no viable alternative to the White House’s approach to negotiations with Iran.

Unnamed Obama Administration sources continued this line of attack. One told Reuters that Netanyahu offered “no concrete plan” on Iran. Another unnamed official told CNN that Netanyahu’s speech had “literally not one new idea; not one single concrete alternative; all rhetoric, no action.”