Iran’s atomic energy envoy has claimed his country's findings made them an “Israeli assassination target.”

Earlier this week, Iran buried a senior commander and 17 others, killed after a huge explosion at one of Iran's most important military bases. Internet rumours blamed Mossad for explosion.

Writing to Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh said Iranian scientists and their families were "the targets for assassination by the Israeli regime and United State of America intelligence services."

He accused Mr Amano of security leaks which expose the identities of the scientists in its report into Tehran’s apparent secret research and development of nuclear weapons.

Much of the report’s content was leaked to Western media before release on November 8.

Mr Soltanieh said: "My government reserves its legitimate rights ... to seek damages, monetary and otherwise, from the IAEA for any injury to persons and damages to property in my country that may arise from your unjustified, unfair and politically motivated reports and decisions that may be taken on the basis of such reports."

The IAEA meets again this week to discuss the ongoing Iranian threat. Iran says it is enriching uranium to use as fuel for nuclear power.