Iran, accused by the United States of trying to build an atomic bomb, has dismissed new allegations that it was carrying out undeclared nuclear activities at a military base.
Diplomats at the UN nuclear watchdog in Vienna said its inspectors had found components that could be used in advanced centrifuges for extracting enriched uranium, which can be used as nuclear fuel or to make an atomic bomb.
"Iran's nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and Iran has not had and nor does it have military nuclear activities," an Foreign Ministry spokesman said today.
At issue is whether Iran made omissions in what it says was a full declaration of its nuclear technology to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna in October.
The USA Todaynewspaper reported that the parts had been found at a military base called Doshan Tapeh. Diplomats said the parts were compatible with the "P2" uranium-enrichment centrifuge, a Pakistani version of the advanced Western "G2" design.
But Iran denied the claims. There was no comment from the IAEA. The exchanges were the latest in a long series of allegations and denials surrounding Iran's nuclear programme, which it insists is purely for generating electricity.
US Undersecretary of State John Bolton said last week there was no doubt that Tehran was pursuing nuclear weapons, and accused it of systematic deception.
But US officials have also made clear that Washington is in no rush to refer the matter to the United Nations Security Council, which has the authority to impose sanctions.
It has left much of the running to the European Union trio of Britain, France and Germany, which last November persuaded Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and accept more intrusive international inspections.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is purely peaceful. It agreed last October to allow snap inspections of its atomic facilities and to halt temporarily uranium enrichment.