The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement regarding Iran's decision to further enrich uranium at its Natanz site:

"Canada is deeply disappointed by Iran's decision to further enrich its nuclear material. The rights to nuclear enrichment come with international obligations that all nations, including Iran, must respect.

"Iran has continued to blatantly ignore these obligations and has deliberately concealed the nature of its nuclear ambitions throughout the history of its nuclear program.

"Iran's announcement that it will no longer limit the enrichment of its nuclear fuel raises the question of how far and for how long Iran is willing to test the patience of the international community.

"Canada calls upon Iran to end its contempt for the international community, address the serious lack of confidence among the international community, and immediately take steps toward transparency and compliance by ending its enrichment activity, ceasing construction of new enrichment sites, and cooperating with International Atomic Energy Agency investigations. Canada will work with other members of the international community toward a solution that will hold Iran to account."

An increase in uranium enrichment from 3.5 percent to 20 percent is considered "weapons usable" and is sufficient for a nuclear weapon.