France says Iran is in process of accelerating the efforts to increase itscapacity of uranium enrichment at underground Fordow nuclear plant.

French foreign minister Le Drian in an interview said Iran earlier thismonth started pressing ahead with plans to enrich uranium to 20% fissilestrength that is the level it achieved before striking the deal with worldpowers to contain its disputed nuclear ambitions

He asked the United States and Iran to return to a 2015 nuclear agreement.