Speaking in Teheran today (April 12), President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iran has enriched uranium to the level needed to be able to generate electricity. In Berlin, deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg referred to these activities as a further step in the wrong direction.

"The Iranian government is apparently not willing to stop isolating itself from the rest of the world," Steg commented, noting that it has not complied with UN Security Council requests nor accepted any of the offers made by the international community.

Foreign Office spokesman Martin Jäger indicated that the German government hopes a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will provide detailed information on what has taken place at the Iranian nuclear facilities in question.

Need to restore confidence

"We need a firm commitment from Iran that it will freeze enrichment activities," Jäger said, adding that nobody is disputing its right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy but that there is definitely a need to restore lost confidence.

These comments come in response to Iran's announcement that it has enriched uranium to the point needed for use in nuclear reactors. The uranium concentration required to produce fuel elements for reactors is between three and five percent. A concentration level of ninety percent is needed for nuclear weapons.

Thirty-day deadline

Jäger referred to the UN Security Council's March 29 request for Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment program within a thirty-day period, saying the German government will wait to see if there is a response from Iran within this time frame.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei is scheduled to fly to Teheran this evening. According to IAEA sources, he will seek answers to questions regarding parts of Iran's nuclear program kept secret for decades and attempt to get Teheran to come into compliance with UN demands.