BRUSSELS, April 12 (UPI) -- Germany and France have joined a handful of countries denouncing Iran's claim it successfully enriched uranium.
"We can only say that this is a further step in the wrong direction," said Thomas Steg, a spokesman for the German government.
On Tuesday Iran said scientists there completed the process to create fuel for nuclear reactors, a process that could lead to nuclear weapons although Tehran denies it plans to.
Deutsche Welle reports French spokesman Jean-Francois Cope said, "We call on Iran to respect its obligations and comply with the demands of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the U.N. Security Council."
The Security Council has set an impending deadline for Iran to stop the enrichment process.
IAEA head Mohammed ElBaradei left for Iran Wednesday to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities and report back to the Security Council.
The United States is leading a group of countries against Iran's plan and is calling for sanctions.
