The Voice of Mirza Xazar

TEHRAN, June 20--Russia sees no threat from Iran's ballistic missiles and does not understand why the United States needs to speak of this to justify the presence of a US missile defense system in Europe, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. "We do not see any kind of threat from Iran," Lavrov told a news conference after a meeting in Tehran of foreign ministers from Caspian Sea states. "Thus, we do not understand why in order to justify the installation of a US anti-ballistic missile system in Europe you have to bring up the pretext of an Iranian threat," he added. The United States plans to locate a powerful missile-tracking radar in the Czech Republic as well interceptor missiles in Poland to combat what it says are threats to global security. Russia vehemently opposes either location for the planned US system. Sergei Lavrov said that the Russian party is ready to fulfill its commitment in connection with the contract for establishment of Bushehr nuclear power plant. "Of course this is a two-way street which the two sides are required to move alongside of it," Lavrov said. Lavrov expressed pleasure with contracts signed with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki and said the two sides agreed on more talks and discussions on relevant issues by their authoritative officials in the near future. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the Russian foreign minister on Wednesday that "relations between Iran and Russia are of strategic importance." Lavrov also said relations between Tehran and Moscow are strategic. "As President (Vladimir) Putin has time and again declared Iran poses no threat to Russia and the region." Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (l) and his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki (r) meet with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran. (Alalam News - www.alalam.ir)