BRUSSELS (EJP)---Iran's decision to start enriching uranium to an unprecedented level of 20 per cent adds to the deficit of confidence in the nature of Iran's nuclear programme, said European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton.

She said the EU stands ready to take the necessary steps for further sanctions against Iran at the United Nations Security Council.

"I want to underline the concern of the EU at the announcement by the Iranian President on 7 February and the notification made to the IAEA on 8 February of the Iranian plan to enrich uranium up to the level of 20%,” she said in a statement.

“Taking enrichment to the level of 20 per cent adds to the deficit of confidence in the nature of Iran's nuclear programme.”

“Iran's enrichment activity is contrary to several Security Council Resolutions. Taking enrichment to the level of 20% adds to the deficit of confidence in the nature of Iran's nuclear programme. This has already been aggravated by Iran's unwillingness to engage in meaningful talks,” Ashton added.

The EU’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission pointed out that the 20-per-cent enriched uranium would not be rich enough to power the Tehran medical reactor which Iran says is the recipient of its homemade fuel. She said that EU states 'do not believe that Iran has either the technical knowledge or the intellectual property rights' to go further yet.

“We continue to find it difficult to understand why Iran has not taken up the proposed agreement with the IAEA which would have solved all these problems.”