JERUSALEM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel denied on Saturday that it was in negotiations with the U.S. authorities over permission for an "air corridor" over Iraq as part of a plan to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported.

　　The UK's Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday morning that Israel is negotiating with the United States for permission to fly over Iraq, in case the Jewish nation is to conduct surgical air strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities.

　　The newspaper quoted a senior Israeli defense official as saying that "the only way to do this is to fly through U.S.-controlled air space." Meanwhile, the official said that negotiations were underway between the two countries.

　　However, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh denied the report on Saturday, saying that any talk of an Israeli offensive against Iran was speculative only, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily said.

　　Sneh said that the report apparently came from sources that did not want to take responsibility for diplomatic inaction regarding Iran's possible nuclear armament.

　　"It is convenient for them to roll the ball into the Israeli court," Sneh was quoted as saying.