VIENNA -- The U.N. atomic watchdog on Thursday demanded that Iran fully cooperate with the agency and provide "precise information" about its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, as well as grant its inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites.

The development sets the stage for a likely further escalation between the U.N. nuclear agency and Iran, which has reacted strongly to similar moves by the watchdog in the past.

Nineteen countries on the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-member board of governors voted for the resolution at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, according to diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the outcome of the closed vote.

Russia, China and Niger opposed it, while 12 countries abstained and one did not vote.

The resolution -- put f

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