Russia said Friday that Iran's ongoing missile tests prove the uselessness of US plans to build a missile shield in eastern Europe because of their short range, reported dpa.
The tests "confirm what we have been saying, that under its current parameters the plan to build a US missile defence system in Europe is not needed to monitor or respond to such missiles," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
Iran conducted missile tests on Wednesday and Thursday, firing medium-and long-range missiles during exercises in the Gulf.
"The tests only show that Iran now has rockets that reach up to 2,000 kilometres," Lavrov said.
Russia views as a threat to its security US plans to site elements of a missile defence shield in the Czech Republic and Poland, but Washington says the shield is necessary to defend against "rogue states."
"We are certain that talk of a missile threat emanating from Iran is an invented motive for deploying a missile shield in Europe," Lavrov said after talks with Jordan's Foreign Minister Salaheddin Bashir.
Bashir was in Moscow to discuss preparations for a Middle East Peace Conference to be held in the capital, and together the foreign ministers called for restraint and negotiation in dealings with Iran.
"We are in favour of any problems linked to Iran being resolved through negotiations, political and diplomatic methods," Lavrov said.
"The threats voiced periodically that 'force will be used' ... that will not work."
The United States has refused to rule out a military attack on Iran believing along with some European capitals that Tehran's civilian atomic energy programme, developed with help from Russia, is a cover for ambitions to build nuclear weapons. dpa adc mga