UN nuclear agency governors have ratified cuts in technical aid to Iran over concern that Tehran might be trying to build nuclear bombs under cover of a civilian atomic energy programme.
The move was adopted by the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday.
It followed UN sanctions passed in December that ban transfers of technology or expertise to Iran.
By consensus, the board adopted a decision by the IAEA's secretariat to freeze or curb 22 of the 55 aid projects, diplomats in the closed session at IAEA headquarters said.
Western powers such as the US and France, who drew up sanctions against Iran, originally demanded more sweeping reductions.
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) bloc of developing nations, to which Iran belongs, had opposed cuts.
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"It is stubbornness and pride on Iran's part that has led to this impasse, and it can only lead to disaster for Iran"
Diom1982, Cork, Ireland
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They feared a precedent would be set jeopardising their own access to IAEA aid for nuclear energy seen as key to modernising their economies.
They also noted there is no hard evidence Iran is abusing IAEA resources for military ends, although doubts abound.
Only two states in the IAEA's 50-year history have been stripped of nuclear aid due to concern about possible diversions into bomb-making, North Korea and Iraq.
Ahead of the widely expected decision, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, the Iranian envoy, condemned it and blamed the UN Security Council, saying it had illegally undermined the IAEA's professional independence.
Soltanieh said none of the projects had anything to do with nuclear fuel production and this would continue no matter what.
Western powers suspect a hidden agenda to build nuclear arms and four years of IAEA investigations often stonewalled by Iran have failed to verify Iran's intentions are entirely peaceful.