Vienna, Nov 19 (IANS): Iran has criticised the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over leaking information about Iranian nuclear scientists and jeopardising their lives.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s leaks about Iranian nuclear scientists have made them targets of Israeli and the US intelligence agencies besides terrorists, Xinhua quoted the Iranian ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh as saying.

Iran reserves the right to claim for damages from the IAEA, if any person or property is harmed in the country that may arise from "unjustified, unfair and politically motivated reports and decisions that may be taken on the basis of such reports," said Soltanieh in a letter to IAEA chief Yukiya Amano.

Several Iranian scientists have been murdered in the past months, Soltanieh said while warning the intelligence agencies of the US and Israel against any attempt to assassinate Iranian scientists.

About the resolution adopted by the IAEA board Friday, Soltanieh said the resolution was "not legally binding" because it was based on the IAEA's report, which he criticised as "unprofessional, biased, illegal and politically motivated."

The resolution, which was drafted by a group of international mediators, was passed by a 32-2 vote with one abstention. It urges Iran to provide access to its nuclear facilities for UN experts and cooperate with the IAEA.

Soltanieh also accused IAEA chief Yukiya Amano of double standards, RIA Novosti reported.

"For the first time after half a century, Mr. Amano has violated the [IAEA] statute by treating the member states with discrimination, and he has given highly confidential documents and materials to certain states," he said.