Riyadh denies Israeli airspace claims

WASHINGTON, June 14 (UPI) -- Riyadh denied allegations it gave Israel the green light to use its airspace to launch an attack on Iran, the Saudi Embassy in the United States said.

A weekend report in The Times of London said Riyadh has carried out military tests to stand down to make room for Israeli bombers en route to Iran.

"The Saudis have given their permission for the Israelis to pass over and they will look the other way," a U.S. defense source told the British newspaper on condition of anonymity. "They have already done tests to make sure their own jets aren't scrambled and no one gets shot down. This has all been done with the agreement of the (U.S.) State Department."

The Saudi Embassy in Washington said the allegations were categorically false.

"Saudi Arabia has repeatedly reiterated its clear stance that it will never allow anyone to use its territories or airspace for aggression against another nation," the statement read.

The Times report said the main targets of any Israeli military raid would be uranium facilities in Natanz and the holy city of Qom, gas storage systems in Isfahan and a heavy-water reactor in Arak.

The developments follow a round of tough new sanctions on Iran passed last week at the U.N. Security Council.