US lawmakers caution Obama administration on Iran overtures

They are being cautious about letting Iran use negotiators as a tool of delay and deception

Top American lawmakers have welcomed the Iranian call for renewed diplomatic engagement with the US but cautioned the Obama administration against lifting of any sanctions against Tehran.

Three top Republican Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte, while being sceptical about the real motives of Iran behind the offer, yesterday supported the willingness of the Obama Administration to test the credibility of the Iranian regime's diplomatic overtures.

"However, we are deeply sceptical about the real motivations behind Iran's charm offensive. We need to approach the current diplomatic initiative with eyes wide open, and we must not allow Iran to use negotiations as a tool of delay and deception," the Senators said.

"A real negotiation does not mean that the diplomats talk while the Iranians enrich," they said in a statement.

"While, I welcome the statement by President Rouhani that Iran is seeking a peaceful and diplomatic path, I was disappointed by the overwhelmingly antagonistic rhetoric that characterised his remarks," Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said.

Menendez's remarks came after the Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, in his address to UN General Assembly in New York said US President Barack Obama's call for diplomatic talks during his address to the world body just hours before made him optimistic.

"I listened carefully to the statement made by President Obama today at the General Assembly," Rouhani had said in New York.

"Commensurate with the political will of the leadership in the United States and hoping that they will refrain from following the short-sighted interests of warmongering pressure groups, we can arrive at a framework to manage our differences," the Iranian President had said.

Menendez said in passing four UN Security Council resolutions, the international community has spoken against Iran's nuclear programme and charted a peaceful path forward.