The decision comes as officials say they believe that Israel is preparing to launch a military attack on Iran. Tehran condemned the vote.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog's board of governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations on Thursday and Tehran announced counter-measures, as an Iranian official said a "friendly country" had warned it of a potential Israeli attack.

Iran says it has built and will activate a third nuclear enrichment facility, ratcheting up tensions with the U.N. immediately after its atomic watchdog censured Iran for failing to comply with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.