A new letter to President Barack Obama signed by 83 of the 100 senators outlines “core principles” that the senators say must be part of a final deal on Iran’s nuclear program.

The senators wrote that any agreement “must dismantle Iran’s nuclear weapons program and prevent it from ever having a uranium or plutonium path to a nuclear bomb.” Iran “has no inherent right to enrichment under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” and also has “no reason to have an enrichment facility like Fordow,” which is located underground, they wrote.

A nuclear deal should force Iran to give up its heavy water reactor at Arak, and make the country “fully explain the questionable activities in which it engaged at Parchin and other facilities,” according to the senators.

“We believe Iran must fully resolve concerns addressed in United Nations Security Council resolutions, including any military dimensions of its nuclear program,” the letter said.

The legislators added that Iran must submit its nuclear program “to a long-term and intrusive inspection and verification regime,” and that the Islamic Republic cannot be allowed to circumvent sanctions during the current negotiations period.

California’s senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, were among the 17 who did not sign the letter. — jns.org