Iranian nuclear work "anything but peaceful," US says

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's announcement that the country has succeeded at creating higher levels of uranium enrichment shows its nuclear intentions are "anything but peaceful," the US State Department said Thursday, dpa reported.

Ahmadinejad said scientists had succeeded at producing a batch of uranium enrichment at a much higher level that it had previously accomplished. The amount was sufficient for running in nuclear power reactors, but still well below the levels needed for weapons grade uranium.

But Iran's nuclear ambitions continue to draw concerns from the United States and European allies who fear Iran is seeking the capability to build nuclear weapons. Iran has rebuffed diplomatic overtures to resolve the issue and is in defiance of UN Security Council demands that it suspend uranium enrichment.

"Should Iran continue down the wrongful course that it's on there will be consequences," State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said.

President Barack Obama said Tuesday the United States is working to enact further international sanctions on Iran for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment or enter serious negotiations to address concerns about the nature of its nuclear activities.