WASHINGTON, April 17: US lawmakers have urged the Bush administration to hold direct talks with Iran to end a potentially dangerous dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The call for direct talks comes amid growing concern over possible US military action to end the nuclear stalemate. Both President Bush and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have dismissed media reports that the US may use nuclear weapons in an attack on Iran as wild speculation, but they haven’t ruled out a military option.

Also in Washington, a US think-tank claimed Iran has expanded its uranium conversion facilities in Isfahan and reinforced its Natanz underground uranium enrichment plant.

The lawmakers, however, have been alarmed by a recent statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who warned Iran to observe a UN deadline for ending its nuclear programme or face the consequences.

On March 28, the UN Security Council gave Iran 30 days to end uranium enrichment. The council is scheduled to meet on April 28 to consider further actions.

Reacting to her statement, lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties urged the administration to exhaust all diplomatic options for seeking a peaceful end to the crisis before considering a military strike.

“I think that would be useful,” said Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when asked on ABC’s ‘This Week’ about having direct talks.

“The Iranians are a part of the energy picture,” said Senator Lugar, a Republican from Indiana. “We need to talk about that.”

Senator Christopher Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, agreed, saying the US has ceded too much diplomacy to Europe. “I happen to believe you need direct talks,” Dodd told Fox News.

“It doesn’t mean you agree with them. It doesn’t mean you support them. It doesn’t mean you have formal diplomatic relations. But there’s an option.”

Although the Bush administration is willing to engage Iran for ending the war in Iraq, it has ruled out the possibility of direct talks with Tehran on the nuclear issue.

But Senator Lugar said it made sense to consider Iran talks, while also dealing with Russia and China to persuade them to support US moves for seeking UN sanctions against Iran if the talks fail.