Moscow accuses US, NATO of trying to invent new grounds for missile shield in Europe

MOSCOW, April 10. /TASS/. The United States and NATO refuse to take into consideration the progress in resolving the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program in the deployment of the missile defense shield in Europe, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"We see that in fact while progress in regard to Iran’s nuclear program is becoming clearer, Washington and Brussels try to invent new grounds for their missile defense program…In this context, the statements that the missile defense system is not directed against Russia are less convincing," the ministry said.

The evident unwillingness of the US and NATO to take into consideration the positive tendencies in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue "confirms our conclusion that the missile defense shield being deployed in Europe is of an anti-Russian character," it said.