New York, Sep 24 (DPA) The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday that allows the global body to address nuclear threats and adopts measures curbing the export of nuclear materials.

The 15-nation council adopted the resolution pushed forward by the US to open its one-day meeting on nuclear disarmament. US President Barack Obama called for the vote immediately after he opened the meeting.

The resolution supports and strengthens the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in carrying out its duties of monitoring nuclear plants and nuclear fuel and minimising the risk of nuclear proliferation worldwide.

The resolution called on countries to sign and ratify, if they have not yet done so, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). While NPT is in already in effect, CTBT is not.

It reaffirmed the alienable rights of countries to possess nuclear energy for peaceful purposes 'without discrimination'. It would allow supplier states to demand the return of nuclear material and equipment if the receiving states are found in non-compliance with IAEA safeguard regulations.

'We harbour no illusions about the difficulty of bringing about a world without nuclear weapons,' Obama said. 'We know there are plenty of cynics, and that there will be setbacks to prove their point. But there will also be days like today to push us forward - days that tell a different story.