The resolution orders all countries to stop supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to its nuclear and missile programmes. It also freezes Iranian assets of 10 key companies and 12 individuals involved in those programmes.

If Iran refuses to comply, the council warned it would adopt further non-military sanctions, but the resolution emphasised the importance of diplomacy in seeking guarantees "that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes."

Iran insists its nuclear programme is intended to produce energy, but the Americans and Europeans suspect its ultimate goal is the production of weapons.

The Iranian government immediately rejected the resolution, vowing in a statement from Tehran to continue enriching uranium, a technology that can be used to produce nuclear fuel for civilian purposes or fuel for a nuclear bomb. The government said it "has not delegated its destiny to the invalid decisions of the UN Security Council."

The United States said it hopes the resolution will clear the way for tougher measures by individual countries, particularly Russia.

But Russia and China, which both have strong commercial ties to Tehran, and Qatar, across the Persian Gulf from Iran, balked.

Iran's UN Ambassador Javad Zarif denounced the council for imposing sanctions on Iran, which he said opposes nuclear weapons and has its facilities under UN safeguards.

China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya called for stepped-up diplomatic efforts, saying, "Sanctions are not the end but a means to urge Iran to resume negotiations."

Acting US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the United States hopes Iran "comes to understand that the pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability makes it less, not more, secure."

CNN