[08/February/2010]

LONDON, Feb 8 (Saba) -- The British Foreign Office (FO) said Monday the latest Iranian statements on its nuclear programme are "deeply worrying." In a statement, the Foreign office was reacting to Iran's nuclear announcement today, in which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinajad announced that his country would step up its uranium enrichment process, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

An FO spokesperson said: "Ahmadinejad suggested last week that Iran might accept the deal proposed by the IAEA last October to send fuel abroad for enriching. A few days later he has rejected that proposal and ordered that Iran increase its enrichment to 20 percent from tomorrow." "Contrary to Iranian assertions, this enriched uranium could not be used for the Tehran Research Reactor as Iran does not have the technology to manufacture it into fuel rods."

The FO said that Instead, enriching to 20 percent would just add to the catalogue of concerns about a nuclear programme with no civilian application, in a country building nuclear facilities in secret and refusing to answer IAEA questions about weapons related activity.

"It is time for Iran to move away from contradictory rhetoric and to start engaging with the IAEA and the international community. Iran needs to address the legitimate concerns about its programme and to start restoring trust in its intentions," the statement stressed.

Saba