The FCO today issued a response to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinajad's announcement that his country would step up its uranium enrichment process.

An FCO 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% from tomorrow.

These latest statements by Iran are deeply worrying. 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.

Instead, enriching to 20% 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.'