Tehran - Tehran on Thursday accused German Chancellor Angela Merkel of being influenced by "Zionist circles" in a reference to Israel after her remarks that a nuclear bomb in Iran's hands would not be acceptable, state media reported.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Merkel's remarks were against the national interests of Germany.

Merkel said Tuesday in Washington that "zero tolerance needs to be shown when there is a risk of weapons of mass destruction falling, for example, into the hands of Iran."

Merkel stressed that security for Israel was non-negotiable for her. "Whoever threatens Israel also threatens us," she said, speaking before Congress.

Iran has said its nuclear programmes are solely for peaceful purposes, but the West suspects Iran could use its nuclear know-how for producing nuclear weapons and use them against its archfoe Israel. (dpa)