Britain concerns Iran's nuclear resumption

Britain said on Monday it was " deeply concerned" about Iran's rejection of proposals by Britain, France and Germany (E3) and its decision to restart its nuclear program.

"We regret Iran's decision to reject the E3's proposals and are deeply concerned about reports that Iran has also decided to restart the Uranium conversion facility at Isfahan," British Foreign Office Minister Ian Pearson said in a statement on government Internet website.

"We will discuss next steps in the IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) board of governors tomorrow," said Ian Pearson, minister of Britain, current holder of the rotating European Union presidency.

"We asked Iran to study our ideas carefully, and suggested meetings of senior officials on 31 August and Ministers in September to consider them. Iran's decision to reject them without discussion is damaging," he added.

The statement came shortly after Iran rejected a package of E3's proposals designed for a solution of the stand-off over Iran's nuclear plans and reopened uranium conversion in an Isfahan plant.

Officials of France and Germany also voiced their concerns over the latest development over the Iran nuclear issue, calling on Tehran to return to talks on its nuclear program.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Iran's resumption of nuclear work clearly violated an accord made in Paris last year, when Tehran agreed to suspend all nuclear activity as a confidence-building measure.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said E3 were doing as much as they possibly can to avert a negative development with " disastrous consequences."

Source: Xinhua