TEHRAN: Iran’s spy chief is accusing French and German intelligence services of co-operating with the CIA to kill Iranian nuclear scientists.

Heidar Moslehi said on Friday that intelligence services in the region have also taken part in the campaign. He did not name other countries.

In the past, Iran has blamed the US, Britain and Israel over the killing of five nuclear scientists. The last assassination was in January.  The US and Britain have denied involvement. Israel has not commented.

Moslehi said Western intelligence agencies share sources and information in their operations against Iran. The West suspects Iran is aiming to produce nuclear weapons and demands limits on Iran’s programme. Iran insists its nuclear development is aimed at peaceful purposes like power generation.

Iran has often threatened reprisals for any Israeli or US-led strike on its nuclear sites. In one headline on its website, state-run Press TV described Western warships in the Arabian Gulf as “sitting ducks.”

An Iranian parliamentary committee said it would pass a bill allowing Tehran to block passage through Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for all Gulf oil exports, to ships of any country backing sanctions.