The UN atomic watchdog's board of governors on Thursday urged Iran to “extend full and prompt cooperation,” provide the agency's inspectors with “precise information” about its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium and grant access to the country's nuclear sites.

The development sets the stage for a likely further escalation of tensions between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran, which has reacted strongly to similar moves by the watchdog in the past.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the decision as being disruptive to Tehran's cooperation with the agency.

"With this action and disregard for Iran's interactions and goodwill, these countries have tarnished the IAEA's credibility and independence and are disrupting the process of interactions and cooperation between the agency and Iran," said Araghchi, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Nineteen countries on the watchdog's 35-member board voted for the resolution at its headquarters in Vienna. Russia, China and Niger opposed it, while 12 countries abstained and one did not vote.

The resolution was put forward by France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.

"Our message is clear: Iran must resolve its safeguards issues without delay. It must provide practical cooperation through access, answers, restoration of monitoring, to enable the agency to do its job and help rebuild confidence," the US, Britain, France and Germany said in a statement to the board.

Iran has suspended all cooperation with the IAEA after the war with Israel despite a brief agreement in Cairo in early September to resume inspections. (AP, Reuters)