The United Nations Security Council demanded that Iran stops enriching uranium by the end of August or faces possible sanctions. Tehran rejected the move, stressing its nuclear programme was peaceful.

Reflecting Russian and Chinese demands, the text is weaker than earlier drafts which threatened immediate sanctions.

Iran denounced the move as illegal. Ambassador to the UN Javad Zarif said the move closed the door to compromise though Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin said he hoped for Iran’s compliance.

Ambassador Zarif said: “Iran's peaceful nuclear programme poses no threat to international peace and security and therefore dealing with this issue in the security council is unwarranted and void of any legal basis or practical utility”.