Brussels, 10/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - The German EU presidency noted with “great concern” on Tuesday the announcement by Iran that it intends to begin uranium enrichment on an industrial scale. On Monday, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had asserted that Iran had moved on to uranium enrichment on an industrial scale at the Natanz plant. This procedure allows for fuels for nuclear plants to be obtained, as well as raw materials for atomic bombs. “Such a step by Iran would directly contradict the repeated requests by the IAEA Board of Governors and the binding calls on Iran by the UN Security Council, in Resolutions 1737 and 1747, to suspend all enrichment-related activities”, an EU declaration published on Tuesday states. “The pPresidency of the European Union once again urges Iran to comply with the demands of the international community and to create the conditions for a return to the negotiating table and for a solution to the conflict surrounding the Iranian nuclear programme”, the statement continues. The European Commission also reacted to the announcement. The spokesperson for the Commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, declared: “Iran should respect obligations in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and comply with UN Security Council resolutions”. The Iranian foreign affairs minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, called on the international community on Tuesday to “accept the reality” of the Iranian nuclear programme”. (hb)