Iran says IAEA resolution jeopardises nuclear talks

VIENNA (Reuters) - A U.N. nuclear watchdog resolution passed against Iran on Friday will jeopardise talks between Tehran and six world powers on its atomic programme and harm its cooperation with the agency, an Iranian official said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's governing body approved the measures sponsored by the powers to censure Tehran for developing a uranium enrichment site in secret and they demanded it freeze the project immediately.

"Adoption of this resolution is not only unhelpful in improving the current situation, but it will jeopardise the conducive environment vitally needed for success in the process of Geneva and Vienna negotiations expected to lead to a common understanding," Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh said.

In a statement, he said the resolution, adopted by a 25-3 margin with six abstentions, was a "hasty and undue" step imposed by a small number of IAEA board members.

"This resolution will of course damage the existing environment of cooperation with the IAEA," Soltanieh later told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting.

He said Iran would end its "voluntary gestures" of cooperation to the IAEA, but did not specify details.

(Reporting by Sylvia Westall)