Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday called for "crippling" sanctions on Iran as the Islamic Republic began to produce 20 percent enriched uranium earlier in the day.

As a response to the latest development of the Iran issue, Israel Prime Minister Office released a statement, saying "the international community must defend world peace and enforce sanctions on Iran. The hour demands crippling sanctions on Iran, now."

Netanyahu also made a similar comment earlier Tuesday during a routine meeting in Jerusalem with ambassadors of the EU states, according to Mark Regev, spokesman of Prime Minister's Office.

"Iran is rushing forward to produce nuclear weapons... I believe that what is required right now is tough action by the international community," local daily Ha'aretz quoted Netanyahu as saying.

"This means crippling sanctions and these sanctions must be applied right now," the hawkish prime minister added.

Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi said on Tuesday that Iran began to produce 20 percent enriched uranium at the Natanz facility, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

For years, Israel, the United States and other countries accused Iran of enriching uranium to make a nuclear bomb, while Iran denied the accusation, saying it has the right to pursue its nuclear program for peaceful use.