The major step is the culmination of several festering stand-offs between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran.

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 slammed the International Atomic Energy Agency’s vote as politically motivated as the region gears up for a potential Israeli strike.