The UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning Iran's "non-compliance" with its obligations in a new warning before a possible referral of the case to the United Nations.
The motion drafted by the United States, Britain, France, and Germany was carried by 19 votes in favor, out of 35 in total, three diplomatic sources told AFP.
It is the latest diplomatic maneuver in a years-long effort to restrict Iran's nuclear activities over Western fears that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, which it denies.
China, Russia, and Burkina Faso voted against the text, while 11 countries abstained, diplomats told AFP.
Paraguay and Venezuela were unable to participate due to insufficient financial contributions.
Ahead of the vote, Tehran had threatened to "react very strongly" by reducing its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in case the resolution was adopted.
Diplomats said the resolution is designed to up pressure on Tehran.
The censure comes as the United States and Iran held several rounds of talks mediated by Oman to secure agreement on limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
But tensions have been mounting in the Middle East, and US President Donald Trump has said he was "less confident" about reaching a nuclear agreement.
On Wednesday, Iran threatened to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out.
Another round of nuclear talks is scheduled to take place in Muscat on Sunday.
"The United States is negotiating in good faith to reach a deal that allows us to say with confidence what President Trump has said time and again: Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon," US chargé d'affaires Howard Solomon said in a statement during this week's IAEA board meeting.
"Iran now has a clear opportunity to build confidence by providing the agency with greater transparency" and "ceasing its escalatory nuclear activities," he said.
The resolution adopted Thursday calls on Iran "to urgently remedy its non-compliance" with its commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
It also "deeply regrets" that Tehran, "despite repeated calls from the Board and many opportunities offered... has failed to cooperate fully with the Agency."
IAEA's "inability... to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful gives rise to questions that are within the competence of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)," which can draw up sanctions, the resolution said.
For years, the IAEA has been trying to obtain clarification on nuclear material and equipment found at undeclared sites and resulting from undeclared activities carried out until the early 2000s.
Tehran has also accelerated production of near-weapons-grade uranium in recent months.
Iran has gradually broken away from its commitments under the nuclear deal it struck with world powers in 2015.
The landmark deal provided Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its atomic program, but it fell apart after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States in 2018.
Efforts to revive the deal have so far failed.
Iran said Thursday it will build a new uranium enrichment facility after the United Nations nuclear watchdog adopted a resolution criticizing Iran for "non-compliance" with its obligations.
"The necessary orders have been issued by the head of the Atomic Energy Organization to launch a new enrichment center in a secure location," said a joint statement from the organization and the foreign ministry, adding that "other measures... will be announced later."
AFP
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