JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel's defense minister says the Western powers' pending nuclear deal with Iran will force the Jewish state to "defend itself, by itself."

Negotiators appeared on the verge of signing a final deal Monday that would lift longstanding sanctions on Iran in return for limitations and closer inspections of its nuclear program. Israel has been among the fiercest critics of the talks, saying the world was making undue concessions without getting enough in return from an Islamic Republic that has made no secret of its belligerent intentions.

Moshe Yaalon says Israel's assumption is that a "bad nuclear deal" was imminent. He said the agreement would not succeed in closing a single reactor or destroy a single centrifuge. He said Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and other Middle East nations shared Israel's concerns.

By The Associated Press