Protesters have poured into New York’s Times Square to denounce the Iran nuclear deal as a threat to Israel and global security, demanding that the US Congress reject the pact.

Speakers at Wednesday’s rally, including Republican politicians, called on the US Congress to throw the deal out, whipping up the crowd on that included supporters of right-wing Jewish and evangelical Christian groups.

The protest came as US Secretary of State and other senior officials briefed members of Congress about the deal behind closed doors.

Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan, reporting from Washington where the talks were held, said that some members of Congress came out from the discussions and told reporters that they were still very sceptical about the deal.

In New York, Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, co-organiser of the Stop Iran Rally, claimed that there were 10,000 people in the crowd. Protesters held up US flags and placards denouncing the deal.

Al Jazeera could not confirm the number of people in attendance.

“We’re here as Americans to speak with one voice to say stop Iran now, reject this deal,” said George Pataki, the former three-term Republican governor of New York.

“This is a God-awful deal, this must be rejected. Congress must do its job and stand up for the American people, stand up for our safety and say no to this Iranian deal,” he said.