Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki, criticized the resolution passed by IAEA as illegal. (Photo: Yahoo)

    BEIJING, Sep. 26 -- Iran threatened Sunday to halt spot checks of its nuclear facilities after the U.N. nuclear watchdog approved a resolution that prepares Iran for referral to the U.N. Security Council.

    Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, criticized the resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, as illegal.

    "The resolution is illegal, illogical and politically motivated. The three European countries implemented a pre-planned scenario already determined by the United States," Mottaki said.

    The chief U.S. delegate to IAEA hailed the decision, describing it as a wake-up call for Tehran "to come clean" or face the consequences.

    Amongst those voting in favour of the resolution were the European countries represented on the board, the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan.

    Of the 35 voting members, UN Security Council members Russia and China abstained, along with 10 other states, all of them developing countries.

    IAEA chief, Mohamed Elbaradei, says approval of the resolution demonstrated the dissatisfaction existing in the international community over the Iranian nuclear issue.

    "I think the international community sent a message to Iran, that it is not satisfied with the base level of cooperation it has with IAEA and it is not satisfied with Iran's reticence to clarify the remaining outstanding issues; the international community is not satisfied with the level of the confidence-building measures Iran has so far taken," he said. 

    The resolution did not specify a time-frame for referral, but outlined instead what Iran must do to avoid being brought before the Security Council.

    But Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki said Iran had no intention of pulling out of the NPT and will continue to cooperate with the IAEA.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)