Three former senior US military officials have warned against a military attack on Iran, saying it would have "disastrous consequences" for security in the region.
In a letter to the British Sunday Times newspaper, the three urged the US to hold immediate and unconditional talks with Tehran.
"The current crisis must be resolved through diplomacy," the letter states.
They say the UK has a "vital role" to play in pushing for a diplomatic solution to the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme and urge it to make clear "it will oppose any recourse to military force".
The letter, signed by retired army lieutenant general Robert Gard, a former military assistant to US defence secretary, Robert McNamara, urges the US government to "engage immediately in direct talks with the government of Iran without preconditions.
"There is time available to talk, we must ensure that we use it," they said.
Attacking Iran "would have disastrous consequences for security in the region, coalition forces in Iraq and would further exacerbate regional and global tensions" they said.
The three men have joined previous petitions calling on the Bush administration to change course in its policy on Iran.
Retired US Marine Corps general Joseph Hoar, a former commander-in-chief of US Central Command and retired Navy vice-admiral Jack Shanahan, a former director of the Center for Defense Information also added their names to the letter.
The US administration has recently increased the regularity and vehemence of its verbal attacks on Iran, prompting fears that it could be preparing for a military strike against the Islamic state.
Washington has also sent a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf, a move seen as a warning to Iran, which the US accuses of seeking nuclear weapons and fuelling instability in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East.
It has offered to hold direct talks with Iran but only once Tehran halts its push to produce nuclear fuel through uranium enrichment.
Iran denies the claims and says its nuclear programme is for its own energy use.
On Friday, Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said Washington was not planning for war with Iran, but again accused Tehran of supplying bombs for attacks on US troops in Iraq.
Agencies
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