A Foreign Office spokesman said today:

'We note the recent statements by the Chief of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Gholam-Reza Aghasadeh, on the imminent entry into service of a Uranium Conversion Facility at Esfahan.'

'This announcement sends the wrong signal about Iranian willingness to implement a suspension of nuclear enrichment-related activities. It will make it more difficult for Iran to re-establish international confidence in her undertakings.'

'Iran must explain her statement and her intentions. Also in this respect, the forthcoming declaration, which Iran is committed to make under the Additional Protocol, will be of the utmost importance.'

'We reaffirm our firm support for the IAEA's ongoing work on this matter.'

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The UK, France and Germany have been working together since August 2003 in an effort to resolve serious international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme. Foreign Ministers visited Tehran in October 2003. Iran signed an Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreements with the IAEA in December 2003. At its meeting in March 2004, the IAEA BoG adopted a Resolution noting progress but strongly critical of continuing Iranian shortcomings.

Statements are issuing in parallel from the French and German Foreign Ministries.