As Iran prepares for possible resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme, a bipartisan group of 73 Senators have urged President Barack Obama to take more stringent steps against the Islamic Republic to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“As you begin your second term as President, we ask you to reiterate your readiness to take military action against Iran if it continues its efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon,” the Senators said in a letter to Obama.

“In addition, we urge you to work with our European and Middle Eastern allies to demonstrate to the Iranians that a credible and capable multilateral coalition exists that would support a military strike if, in the end, this is unfortunately necessary,” the letter said.

Besides this, the Senators urged Obama to take three other concrete steps against Iran. “We urge you to expand America’s outreach and support to the Iranian people and support of the cause of human rights and democracy in Iran,” they said.

“As we have seen across the Middle East over the past two years, autocratic regimes that appear entrenched and invulnerable can collapse with stunning speed,” it said.

“We believe that the current government of the Islamic Republic of Iran will eventually end up in the ash heap of history, not because of the efforts of the United States, but because of the desire of the Iranian people to enjoy the basic freedoms that are their universal right, and that many of their neighbours increasingly are demanding,” the Senators said.

The lawmakers said they strongly believe there should be absolutely no diminution of pressure on the Iranians until the totality of their nuclear problem has been addressed.

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