Germany urges Iran about-turn on enrichment

BERLIN, Apr 12 (Reuters) Germany expressed ''great concern'' on Wednesday at Iran's announcement it had enriched uranium for the first time, and urged Tehran to freeze its programme as demanded by the United Nations Security Council.

In language echoing that used by the United States, government spokesman Thomas Steg said Iran had taken ''a further step in the wrong direction''.

''These reports ... fill us with great concern ... Iran is apparently not ready to leave the path of self-isolation,'' he told a regular government news conference.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said it remained to be seen if Iran would send a ''counter-signal'' during the 30-day period set by the Security Council on March 29, after which the UN nuclear watchdog is to report on Tehran's compliance.

Asked what kind of signal he meant, Jaeger said: ''We need a strong announcement from the Iranian side that it is ready to freeze enrichment and all enrichment-related activities.'' Enrichment is a process of purifying uranium for use in nuclear power stations or -- if carried far enough -- in an atomic bomb.

Iran insists it is pursuing nuclear technology solely to generate electricity, but the United States and European Union suspect it of using its programme as cover for developing nuclear weapons.

Reuters SI GC1627