A new resolution from the U.N. Security Council and Germany expresses “deep and increasing concern” that Iran is using its nuclear program to develop military weapons.

The resolution was put forward Thursday at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. The watchdog agency's board of governors is expected to debate the measure on Friday at its first meeting since it alleged last week that there is “credible” evidence Tehran is trying to build nuclear weapons.

Earlier Thursday, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said he had requested Iran allow a high-level IAEA mission visit to see if its controversial nuclear program has “possible military dimensions.”

The United States and several European countries have been pushing the nuclear watchdog to come down hard on Iran for its nuclear program. But Russia and China have expressed skepticism about last week's IAEA report. Russian officials dismissing the findings as nothing new.

Iran rejected the report and has continually denied allegations it is pursuing nuclear weapons.

Seeking to increase the pressure against Iran, a U.S. Senator Thursday introduced new legislation aimed at collapsing Iran's central bank. The amendment would allow the U.S. to cut off any foreign financial institution for doing business with the bank, though it allowed for certain exceptions to try to ensure the oil market would not be disrupted, and to ensure food and medical aid could continue to the Iranian public.

Recent reports in the Israeli media said Israel's government has been considering a military strike on Iran's nuclear sites. And Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned during a U.S. television interview that Iran could spark a new, nuclear arms race if it gets a nuclear bomb.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said Tehran will respond to any military strike by Israel or its main ally the United States with “strong slaps and iron fists.”

The U.N. Security Council has passed four sets of sanctions on Iran for refusing to stop nuclear activities that have both civilian and military uses.