With US Secretary of State John Kerry set to hold direct talks with the Iranian foreign minister, a powerful group of 11 senators today urged President Barack Obama to increase the pressure on Tehran as he hinted at the possibility of meeting Iran's new leader.
"We are this troubled by reports that you might be considering offering a new proposal that would leave the door open to a nuclear Iran, perhaps allowing Iran to preserve part of its nuclear weapons program," the Republican senators wrote in a letter to Obama.
"We understand that Iran has a right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to peaceful civilian nuclear energy. We do not believe, however, that this means that Iran should have access to the entire nuclear fuel cycle," the letter said.
Led by Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the letter was signed among others by Senators Pat Roberts, John Cornyn, John Hoeven, James Risch, David Vitter, Roy Blunt, John Boozman, Ted Cruz, Dan Coats and John Barrasso.
"As a country that has repeatedly and blatantly violated its international obligations in this area and because of the proliferation risk posed by even a limited enrichment program and possession of sensitive reprocessing technologies, we will not be able to support any deal with Iran, including through sanctions relief, that compromises on this issue," the senators wrote.
The letter was released to the press as Obama concluded his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, in which he reflected upon the changing relationship with Iran, but acknowledged that more needs to be done.
"We are encouraged that President Hasan Rouhani received from the Iranian people a mandate to pursue a more moderate course, and given President Rouhani's stated commitment to reach an agreement, I am directing John Kerry to pursue this effort with the Iranian government in close cooperation with the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia and China," Obama said.
"The roadblocks may prove to be too great, but I firmly believe the diplomatic path must be tested. That while the status quo will only deepen Iran's isolation, Iran's genuine commitment to go down a different path will be good for the region and for the world, and will help the Iranian people meet their extraordinary potential in commerce and culture, in science and education," said the US President.
