Monday, January 16 2006 20:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The United States may ultimately have to use force as its last resort to prevent Iran from going the full nuclear route, senior lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties have said.

"That is the last option. Everything else has to be exhausted. But to say under no circumstances would we exercise a military option, that would be crazy," remarked top Republican Senator John McCain.

Democratic Senator Evan Bayh who sits in the Senate Intelligence Committee, said there are sensitive elements of Iran's nuclear programme, which, if attacked, would dramatically delay its development.

Accusing the Bush administration of ignoring the Iran problem for the last four years, Bayh said in a television interview, "But that should not be an option at this point. We ought to use everything else possible to keep from getting to that juncture."

Last week Iran upped the ante by breaking the seals at its nuclear plant and letting the world know that it is resuming research on uranium enrichment. The West has consistently rejected Iran's statements that its nuclear programme is meant for peaceful and civilian purposes.

The five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany are due to meet in London today.

Senator McCain, who is seen as one of the Presidential hopefuls for 2008, called the nuclear impasse, "The most grave situation that we have faced since the end of the Cold War," stressing that Washington may even have to go it alone at the Security Council if Russia and China hesitate.