Iran sparked fresh warnings of new sanctions by formally telling the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its uranium plans, which critics claim are a cover to develop nuclear weapons.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "suggested last week that Iran might accept the deal proposed by the IAEA last October to send fuel abroad for enriching," said a Foreign Office spokesman.
"A few days later he has rejected that proposal and ordered that Iran increase its enrichment to 20 percent from tomorrow. These latest statements by Iran are deeply worrying."
The spokesman added that, contrary to Iranian assertions, this 20-percent 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 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 .. and to start restoring trust in its intentions."
