TEHRAN: Iran summoned Austria`s charge d`affaires after it described as `fake` an Austrian intelligence report that said Tehran is seeking to acquire atomic weapons.

In its annual report on global threats, Austria`s domestic intelligence service (DSN) said onMonday that Iran`s `nuclear weapons development programme is well advanced`.

Iran categorically denied the claims, instead arguing that it is pursuing a nuclear programme for civilian purposes alone.

`All efforts to prevent Iran`s armament through sanctions and agreements have so far proved ineffective,` the Austrian report said. On Friday, Iran`s foreign ministry condemned `the fake information` disseminated in the report and demanded an explanation from Austria`s government.

It later summoned Austria`s charge d`affaires in Tehran Michaela Pacher to `convey strongprotest`, the official IRNA news agency reported.

It said that during the meeting, the ministry `emphasised the complete contradiction of the Austrian report with numerous IAE A reports`.

The IAEA, whose headquarters are in the Austrian capital, will in the coming days publish its own review of Iran`s nuclear activities.

Iran and the United States are engaged in an Omani-mediated effort to reach a deal on Tehran`s nuclear programme, after President Trump pulled out of the 2015 agreement.

No date has yet been set for the next Iran-US meeting since last week`s discussions in Rome.

On Thursday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was `not sure` that a dealwith the United States was imminent.

His statement came after Trump said the previous day that the two sides were `very close to a solution`.-AFP