New IAEA resolution berates Iran for nuclear activities, poor cooperation

One day after commending Iran's agreement to cap its uranium stockpiles, the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency passed a censure motion on Thursday denouncing Iran's lack of transparency on its nuclear activities, with Western nations suspecting the country of building a nuclear weapon. The nuclear watchdog's board of governors passed a resolution chiding 's poor cooperation with the agency after hours of heated exchanges, diplomats told AFP late on Thursday, a move Tehran called "politically motivated". The censure motion brought by , , and the at the 's 35-nation board follows a similar one in June.

But it comes as tensions run high over Iran's atomic programme, with critics fearing that Tehran is attempting to develop a -- a claim the Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied. The resolution -- which , and voted against -- was carried by 19 votes in favour, with 12 abstentions and Venezuela not participating, two diplomats told AFP. ( ) Read also:.