VIENNA (Agencies) -- A senior Iranian envoy, Ali-Ashgar Soltanieh, accused the United States on Monday of trying to use the International Atomic Energy Agency as a tool in Washington’s confrontation with Tehran.

Soltanieh’s remarks came as IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei told an opening session of the IAEA board meeting that Tehran needs to provide “substantive information” on alleged weapons studies claimed by Washington.
Soltanieh’s said allegations of nuclear weapons work by Tehran are based on “forged documents” and the issue is closed.
“Today it became clear for the Board of Governors that the original documents and even a copy of the documents regarding alleged studies have not been presented to the agency,” Soltanieh told reporters.
“How can we question a country without having offered the principal document to them (the IAEA officials)? Mr. ElBaradei today asked the U.S. to present the original documents to the agency,” IRNA quoted Soltanieh as saying.
Soltanieh, the chief Iranian delegate to the IAEA, accused Washington of hijacking the agency for an anti-Iran campaign.
“The international community and all member states of the IAEA are frustrated with this kind of United States actions in the IAEA,” he told reporters carried by the Associated Press.
“The Americans are every day isolating themselves.”