BERLIN, Jan. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier criticized Iran on Monday for resuming its nuclear fuel research.

    Iran's decision to resume nuclear research "marks a breach of Tehran's commitments... It cannot remain without consequence," Steinmeier said in Genshagen, south of Berlin where the German cabinet is holding a two-day meeting to discuss measures to boost economic growth.

    Steinmeier said Germany would discuss Iran's latest step by Thursday with France and Britain, the other two countries that had been negotiating with Tehran on its controversial nuclear program.

    An Iranian government spokesman confirmed on Monday that Tehran would resume nuclear research activities the same day, ending a two-year suspension.

    Iran's decision came after talks between Russia and Iran on a proposed compromise to end the row over uranium enrichment turned out to be unsuccessful on Sunday.

    Steinmeier said he planned to speak to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov later Monday about Iran's decision.

    Moscow has been proposing that Iran conduct uranium enrichment on Russian territory to quell Western fears that the technology could allow Iran to produce a nuclear bomb. Enditem