Iran parliament to vote on NPT membership

Iran's parliament passed an urgent measure Sunday that stipulates its members must decide within the next 24 hours whether to continue its membership in the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The move comes a day after the U.N. Security Council voted to impose sanctions on Iran for failing to suspend its nuclear program.

The U.N. resolution, passed by all 15 council members, orders all countries to ban the supply of materials and technology that could contribute to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. It also freezes assets of companies and individuals in the country's nuclear and missile programs. These are identified on a U.N. list.

The resolution is a reaction to Iran's failure to comply with an August 31 U.N. deadline to suspend uranium enrichment work and resume negotiations.

Iran says its nuclear program is aimed solely at the peaceful production of nuclear energy.

Shortly after the measure passed, Iran said it would continue its nuclear work regardless of the sanctions and continue with its planned production of 3,000 centrifuges at Natanz plant, but under IAEA supervision.

If Iran's parliament votes to withdraw from its voluntary membership they will produce the centrifuges without the IAEA's involvement.

In addition, Tehran will no longer be entitled to receive nuclear technology assistance by the IAEA and its members.

The agency's stated goal is to verify that safeguarded nuclear material and activities are not used for military purpose but instead for peaceable nuclear energy, which is what Iran's president has said is his country's only goal.