Jerusalem, Jan. 22 (Reuters): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that he will address the US Congress during a March visit likely to drive home differences with the Obama administration over whether to impose additional sanctions on Tehran.

US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner's invitation yesterday to Netanyahu - whose relationship with President Barack Obama has been acrimonious - had drawn criticism from the White House, which said it had not been consulted.

Shortly before Netanyahu's formal acceptance of the invitation, Israel's Mossad intelligence chief publicly closed ranks with the Right-wing Prime Minister - denying in a rare press statement reports that he opposed further sanctions on Iran.

On his Twitter page, Boehner said the Congressional address was scheduled for March 3 - exactly two weeks before Israel's general election in which Netanyahu is vying for a fourth term.