Tehran threat? Russia questions US, EU motives behind missile shield in Europe
Despite progress being made concerning nuclear talks with Iran, Russia says US and EU officials are trying to “think up” new reasons to deploy a missile shield in Europe. Moscow says there is no need for the defensive system in Europe.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry was commenting on the latest statement given by US state officials. Washington says that even despite the historic deal concerning Iran’s nuclear program, this does not mean a plan to deploy an American missile shield to Europe will be revised.
“The threat to NATO countries posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles continues to increase… the framework [of the Iran nuclear program] agreement does not change that fact,” NATO’s spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told Sputnik last week.
#NATO missile shield to stay in Europe no matter deal or no deal with #Iranhttp://t.co/Tx23zSKKt3pic.twitter.com/dotG5r0WHI
— RT (@RT_com) April 4, 2015
However, Moscow was scathing about the decision, saying
Washington was backtracking on promises it had previously made.
“These interpretations definitely go against assurances US
President Barack Obama made in Prague, who maintained that with
the elimination of the ‘Iranian threat’ there would be no reason
for the deployment of the missile shield in Europe,” said
the Ministry.
READ MORE: Russia boosts air defense in face of US
Prompt Global Strike capacity
“As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward
with the missile system,” President Obama said in April
2009.
“If the Iranian threat is eliminated, we will have a stronger
basis for security. And the driving force for missile
construction in Europe will be removed,” Obama added.
Russian Ambassador Warns Denmark Over NATO Missile Shield full art. @ http://t.co/O6GZCi4OIH#USCG#usarmy#usairforce#usnavy#usmarines…
— S&S_MIL_Newsfeed (@SS_MIL_NEWS) March 22, 2015
Now both Brussels and Washington are looking for new “grounds”
for their missile program, Moscow says.
READ MORE: NATO missile shield in Europe stays, despite
understanding over ‘nuclear Iran fairytale’
“This serves as yet more proof that references to the
‘Iranian [missile] threat’ served as smokescreen, whereas the
genuine objective is the creation of an anti-missile program with
quite a different purpose,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry wrote.
READ MORE: Russia ready to repel any nuke strike,
retaliate – missile forces command chief
#US#Ballistic#Missile#Defense Shield system in #Europe starts stage 2 according schedule plan. pic.twitter.com/P7LH3QqkCl
— Velina Tchakarova (@vtchakarova) January 27, 2015
Russia’s deputy Prime Minister and a former representative of
Moscow to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, made a similar query on his
Twitter account on April 3, after statements concerning Iranian’s
missile threat started to re-emerge.
The controversial missile shield in Europe will stay because “the
Missile Defense System was never about Iran,” Rogozin said.
READ MORE: Military dominance over Russia
impossible, nuclear deterrent top priority – Defense
Ministry
#Infographic: #European Ballistic Missile Shield 3 phase plan to be completed in 2018 http://t.co/FeiuvRDWP8pic.twitter.com/LhCqJ7TuC2
— One Europe (@One1Europe) January 5, 2015
All declarations about the US missile shield in Europe not being aimed at Russia look even less convincing now, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
“The obvious rejection of the US and NATO [member states] to take into account the positive results in trying to settle the Iranian nuclear problem, serves to prove our conclusions about the anti-Russian nature of the missile shield being deployed in Europe,” Russian Foreign Ministry stated.
