Iran has dismissed US accusations that it, Syria and their Lebanese allies Hizbullah are trying to topple Lebanon's government.
The White House said yesterday that it has evidence that Syria, Iran and their allies in the Shia Muslim group were preparing to topple the Beirut government, which is dominated by US-backed politicians.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said today that Washington's agenda was to divide Lebanon and that the United States should review its policies in the Middle East.
"These are repeated claims aimed to create divisions among Lebanese people and their government," he said.
An editorial in Syria's government newspaper Baathclaimed that the "pure vilification is meant to raise turmoil in Lebanon and cause fallout with Syria, which paid with blood to maintain Lebanese independence and sovereignty".
The Syrian newspaper said the United States "which claims to know everything" should make public any evidence of the alleged Syrian role in efforts to topple the Lebanese government.
US officials say the information is classified.
The White House comments came a day after Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gave Prime Minister Fouad Siniora until the middle of this month to agree on the formation of a unity government or face protests demanding a new election.
The United States has no diplomatic ties with Iran and has strained relations with Syria, accusing both countries of supporting terrorism and destabilising the Middle East. Both countries deny the charges, and Iran says its offers only moral support to Hizbullah.