Iran denies shifting foreign assets

"So far we have not moved any hard currency, we have not transferred it," he told reporters at a news conference.

Iran faces possible UN economic sanctions over its disputed atomic program and has bitter memories of its US assets being frozen after the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"The Central Bank is managing, according to Iran's national interests, the currency reserves of the country and is keeping these reserves in major international banks, notably in Europe and other countries," said a Central Bank statement read out on state television.

"Iran has not moved funds," foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi also told reporters.

Central bank chief Ebrahim Sheibani had said on Wednesday -- according to comments that were only reported two days later by Iranian news agencies -- that Iran was moving funds from Europe to Asia.

But the deputy head of the bank, Mohammad-Jafar Mojarad, issued a denial on Saturday.