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Tests show US shield 'not needed' Tests show US shield 'not needed'
(10 minutes later)
The results of recent Iranian missile tests prove that US plans for a defence shield in Europe are unnecessary, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.The results of recent Iranian missile tests prove that US plans for a defence shield in Europe are unnecessary, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
He said the tests confirmed Tehran had missiles with a limited range of up to 2,000km (1,240 miles), meaning the US system was not needed. He said the tests confirmed Tehran had missiles with a limited range of up to 2,000km (1,240 miles).
Iranian media said missiles tested this week included one that can hit Israel. The US says it wants shield sites in Poland and the Czech Republic to defend US troops and allies from rogue states.
The US says it wants to build the shield in Poland and the Czech Republic to defend allies from rogue nations. Following widespread condemnation over the tests, Iran says it is open to talks about its nuclear programme.
The state news agency said the chief Iranian negotiator, Saeed Jalili, would meet the European Union envoy Javier Solana on 19 July in Geneva - although this has not yet been confirmed by Mr Solana's office.
The BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne says that although Iran seems willing to talk, it is unclear whether it is willing to give any ground.
Some analysts saw this week's missile tests as an attempt by hardliners to discourage compromise.
Threats
The tests are said to have included the Shahab-3, which could reach Israel and a number of US allies in the region, but not the proposed US shield bases in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The plans involve placing the tracking radar system in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. The US wants the sites to be in operation by about 2012.
Mr Lavrov told reporters in Moscow that the tests showed that "a missile defence shield with these parameters is not needed to monitor or react to such threats".
"We believe that any issue related to Iran should be resolved through negotiation, through political-diplomatic means... and not through threats," he said.
Moscow fears siting the system near its borders could weaken its own defences or be used to spy on Russia. It has previously threatened to aim its own missiles at any eventual base in Poland or the Czech Republic.