Barack Obama arrives at Capitol Hill in Washington Jan. 16, 2007. U.S. Republican and Democratic senators Tuesday warned against a drift toward war with an emboldened Iran (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    BEIJING, Jan. 31(Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Republican and Democratic senators Tuesday warned against a drift toward war with an emboldened Iran and suggested the Bush administration was missing a chance to engage its longtime adversary in potentially helpful talks over next-door Iraq.

    Sen. Barack Obama, a candidate for president in 2008, warned during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that senators of both parties will demand "clarity and transparency in terms of U.S. policy so that we don't repeat some of the mistakes that have been made in the past," a reference to the faulty intelligence underlying the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

    "What I think many of us are concerned about is that we stumble into active hostilities with Iran without having aggressively pursued diplomatic approaches, without the American people understanding exactly what's taking place," Obama told John Negroponte, who is in line to become U.S. No. 2 diplomat as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's deputy.

    Sen. Chuck Hagel, a possible presidential candidate, asked Negroponte if he thinks the United States is edging toward a military confrontation with Tehran. In response, Negroponte repeated President Bush's oft-stated preference for diplomacy, although he later added, "We don't rule out other possibilities."

    Separately, the Navy admiral poised to lead American forces in the Middle East said Iran wants to limit America's influence in the region.

    "They have not been helpful in Iraq," Adm. William Fallon told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "It seems to me that in the region, as they grow their military capabilities, we're going to have to pay close attention to what they do and what they may bring to the table."

    The Bush administration has increased rhetorical, diplomatic, military and economic pressure on Iran over the past few months, in response to Iran's alleged deadly help for U.S. troops in Iraq and the long-running dispute over Iran's nuclear program.

    Bush said Tuesday the United States "will deal with it" if Iran escalates military action inside Iraq and endangers American forces. But, in an interview with ABC News, Bush emphasized this talk signals no intention of invading Iran itself.

    Senators including Hagel, George Voinovich, and Joseph R. Biden Jr., sounded frustrated with the administration's decision not to engage Iran and Syria in efforts to reduce sectarian violence in Iraq.

    "I would never want to say never with respect to initiating a high-level dialogue with either of these two countries, but that's the position, as I understand it, at this time," Negroponte said.

    The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to approve Negroponte quickly for a job vacant since July.

    (Agencies)

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