Iran shot back on Friday that the West’s allegations were based on fabricated American, Israeli, British and French intelligence fed to the International Atomic Energy Agency to try and discredit the Islamic Republic.

Reflecting its bitterness, Iran’s chief IAEA delegate withdrew an invitation to UN atomic agency experts to visit Tehran and discuss nuclear concerns.

He also announced Tehran was boycotting a meeting next week to explore the possibilities of a Mideast nuclear-free zone that will be attended by Israel and all Arab nations, accusing IAEA chief Yukiya Amano of bias for not focusing on Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal.

The unusually tough exchanges were bound to further raise international tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities —even though the Western statements emphasized that the preferred solution was through diplomacy.

France warned Iran to defuse world fears that it is working on nuclear weapons or face “unprecedented” sanctions, while Washington dismissed “the hollowness” of Iranian claims, asserting that Iran must acknowledge its secret weapons development work. Britain, too, urged Iran to “address the grave concerns of the international community about its nuclear program.”

Statements delivered to the IAEA’s 35-nation board by the US, and on behalf of Germany, Britain and France, contained no mention of military action—an option that has not been discounted by either Israel or the US if Tehran refuses to stop activities that can be used for nuclear weapons.

(AP)