As of July 18, the letter had the signatures of 118 members of the House of Representatives, about a quarter of that body. The letter's authors, a Republican and a Democrat, hoped to send it to the White House on July 19.

 

The letter notes that while Iran has changed presidents before, "it would be a mistake not to test whether" newly-elected Iranian President Hassan Rohani represents a genuine opportunity for progress in U.S.-Iranian relations.

 

Iran has repeatedly denied allegations that it is pursuing nuclear weapons, saying its atomic program is peaceful.

 

In a recently drafted letter intended for Obama, a bipartisan pair of lawmakers, Charles Dent (Republican-Pennsylvania) and David Price (Democrat-North Carolina), said it would be "a mistake" not to test the waters now that a new president is in place. 

 

The two lawmakers urged Obama to use all available diplomatic tools "to reinvigorate" nuclear talks but cautioned against doing anything that might appear to delegitimize Rohani.

 

Representative Keith Ellison (Democrat-Minnesota), who supports that call, told RFE/RL that Rohani's election could present the U.S. with an opportunity "to reset" its relationship with Tehran.

 

"It's not a guarantee —a guarantee and an opportunity are not the same thing," Ellison said. "But I think if there is even a chance that the United States and Iran could engage in a new relationship-building situation, then we should take it. Both are large, powerful countries and there has been a hostile rhetoric going back and forth. Why not, with the election of Mr. Rohani, see if we can reset the relations and at least begin a dialogue?"  Add Comments>>