U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today joined a group of Republican senators, led by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), urging President Obama to increase pressure on Iran and to stand with the Iranian people. (click on the letter for a closer look)

Senator Roberts and his colleagues expressed their deep concern with recent reports of diplomatic exchanges between President Obama and Iranian President Rouhani. President Obama’s remarks at the United Nations today confirmed the senators’ concerns about the President’s position.

“We are thus 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,” said the senators. “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. 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 letter to President Obama was signed by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Risch (R-ID), David Vitter (R-LA), Roy Blunt (R-MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Dan Coats (R-IN) and John Barrasso (R-WY).