VIENNA: Iran's showdown with the West over its nuclear ambitions entered a new, more volatile phase on Saturday, as the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency voted to refer it to the United Nations Security Council for violating its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The vote was 22-1, with 12 countries, including Russia and China, abstaining. The resolution's approval was widely expected, but only a frenzied round of last-minute diplomacy at the agency's headquarters here persuaded Russia and China to abstain rather than vote against the measure.

The vote reflected continuing divisions within the agency's 35-member board. India, which had earlier expressed doubts about the measure, voted in favour, while Venezuela cast the sole "no" vote.

U.S. satisfied

The United States — which backed the resolution drafted by Britain, France, and Germany — expressed satisfaction, saying that it clearly raised doubts about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme.

``We're concerned that Iran's activities pose an increasing threat to international peace and security,'' said the U.S. Ambassador to the agency, Greg Schulte. ``Our goal is a peaceful diplomatic settlement that benefits the Iranian people and gives us confidence in the nature of Iran's nuclear programme.''

Russia and China had opposed the resolution on the grounds that it would only worsen the standoff. The two countries, which have permanent seats on the Security Council, have close economic ties with Iran.

The resolution did not specify what action the Security Council should take. Western diplomats said their goal was not to apply sanctions, but to step up the international pressure on Iran to abide by the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Europe's push for a resolution came after its own diplomatic initiative with Teheran collapsed last month, when Iran abandoned an earlier pledge to suspend the conversion and enrichment of uranium.

The vote was the culmination of two and a half years of confrontation between Iran and the atomic energy agency, which began in 2003 after the agency's inspectors uncovered evidence that Iran had concealed efforts to enrich uranium, a crucial building block for nuclear weapons. While Iran has allowed visits by agency inspectors, it has severely limited access to certain facilities. It has also razed a plant in Teheran where the inspectors believe Iran may have been experimenting with nuclear material.Western diplomats tried to play down the 12 abstentions.

``The fact that Peru, Singapore, Ghana, India, and Ecuador voted to support this resolution undercuts Iran's argument that this is purely Western political pressure,'' said a Western diplomat.

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