Iranian DM: No agreement with Turkey on NATO missile shield deployment

Iran's Defense Minister General Ahmad Vahidi dismissed a recent statement by Ankara officials that Tehran had consented to the deployment of a NATO missile shield in Turkey, reiterating that Iran continues opposition to the plan and has not changed its stance in this regard, Fars news agency reported.

"The Foreign Ministry has already denied the report and the Islamic Republic of Iran's position is still the one which was declared at the beginning," Vahidi told reporters, rejecting a report by the Turkish Zaman daily which quoted Ankara's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying that Iran and Turkey have reached an agreement on the deployment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) radar system in Iran's north-western neighbor.

The Iranian General viewed deployment of a NATO missile defense shield in Turkey as an "improper" move, and cautioned, "This will trouble security of the region."

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast also rejected any agreement with Turkey on the deployment of a NATO radar system in the country.

"Our position is clear on the issue. We continuously propose and pursue our position with Turkish brothers," Mehman-Parast said.

Iran has already said that deployment of the missile shield is aimed at defending Israel.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also voiced strong opposition to the plan, saying, "We told our Turkish friends that it was not a correct job (decision) they did. Such shields can't prevent the collapse of the Zionist regime."

Turkey agreed to host the radar system in September as part of NATO's missile defense system. The radar system aims to spot missile threats coming from outside Europe. Ankara claimed the shield does not target a specific country.


/Trend/