MOSCOW (RT) – U.S. climate envoy John Kerry has denied passing information on Israeli military operations in Syria to his one-time Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who made the claim in leaked audio, enraging GOP critics.

A controversial recording leaked to the New York Times on Sunday captured a far-reaching, hours-long discussion between Zarif and economist Saeed Leylaz. At one point in the sit-down, the Iranian FM says Kerry informed him that Tel Aviv had carried out more than 200 strikes on “Iranian interests” in Syria, a revelation Zarif reportedly called “astonishing”.

Recorded last month and originally obtained by the London-based Persian news outlet Iran International, the leaked audio quickly sparked demands from Republican lawmakers for Kerry to step down, among them Senators Dan Sullivan (Alaska) and Rick Scott (Florida). New York GOP Representative Elise Stefanik, meanwhile, went even further, saying the former secretary of state “must be immediately investigated and prosecuted”.

However, Kerry weighed in later on Monday night to set the record straight amid the controversy, insisting the allegations are “unequivocally false”. “This never happened — either when I was secretary of state or since”, he added.

Tehran, for its part, has not disputed the authenticity of the recording, though a Foreign Ministry spokesman argued the behind-closed-doors conversation was leaked “illegally” and that portions had been “cherry-picked” for political purposes.

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris debate the issue: