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World News: Iran Nuclear Plans Causing Serious Concern

The UK Foreign Office says it is treating Iran's latest apparent move to escalate uranium enrichment as a matter of "serious concern".

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ordered scientists in the country to upgrade enrichment of the nuclear fuel to 20%.

The hardened stance from Tehran coincides with calls from the US for greater pressure to be placed on Iran over the issue.

Speaking during a week-long visit to Europe, US secretary of defence Robert Gates said there was "still time for sanctions to work" if the international community stood together.

But he appeared to express scepticism over the potential of Iran signing up to a plan currently being discussed, under which it would export a large bulk of its nuclear material for enrichment overseas.

Under the proposal, the uranium would be turned into refined fuel rods that could only be used in civilian programmes and returned to Tehran.

Last week Mr Ahmadinejad said he had "no problem" with the plan. But his latest comments seem to distance Iran from the scheme.

In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, Mr Ahmadinejad said: "God willing, 20% enrichment will start."

Turning to the head of Iran's atomic energy agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, the president added: "Mr Salehi, begin production of 20%."

The ordered 20% enrichment is still far below the 90% needed for a nuclear warhead.

But it will raise Western concerns that Tehran is moving further towards creating weapons grade nuclear material.

The jump from 20% to 70% enrichment can be much more quickly achieved than from the 3.5% to 4.5% that the country currently produces.

It is likely to lead to greater calls from the US for a fourth round of United Nations sanctions to be placed on Tehran to keep it in check over its perceived nuclear intentions.

A spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office said: "Reports that Iran is planning to enrich some of their fuel to 20% level of enrichment are clearly a matter of serious concern."

She added that it would constitute a "deliberate breach" of five UN Security Council Resolutions.

Pictured: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a laser technology exhibition in Tehran