Iran Slams Russian Military Official's Remarks On US Missile System

Tehran, April 29, IRNA – Iran on Saturday lashed out at a Russian military official for his surprising statement that deploying US missile system does not pose a threat to Russia. An Iranian defense official said that the statement made by Russian Army chief of staff Nikolai Makarov is in blatant contravention of the security of Russia and other regional countries. The source said that the compromise over expansionist goals of the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization jeopardizes security of the region. He said that the statement made by Makarov runs counter to the stance of senior Russian officials. The source said that defense experts in the region believe that the US missile system which is to be deployed in Europe has targeted Russia's strategic depth. He said that North Korea's missile program and Iranian nuclear program cannot be taken as pretext for the US to deploy missile system in Europe. 'The sudden U-turn and overnight policy change of Russia on its strategic stand will undermine the declared policy of the Moscow government.' /end