Iran n-issue no excuse for US missile defence: Russia

Moscow, March 23 (IANS) Iran's nuclear issue could be resolved by negotiations not by the deployment of US-led NATO missile defence facilities, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Friday.

"It is better to resolve these problems by negotiations with political means, and not to attempt to cover oneself from a threat under some umbrella even based on the cutting-edge technology," Ryabkov told a scientific conference, Xinhua reported.

"I do not believe that Iran, under such severe sanctions and attention focused by all world intelligence services, can secretly create any nuclear weapons and use them," the diplomat said.

He said that the Western countries thought there would be no other way to defend themselves against such arms except for building a missile defence system.

Russia should be prepared for the worst case scenario, Ryabkov said, adding that Moscow would keep looking for further agreement with the US.

The West believe Iran is trying to acquire nuclear wepons in the garb of a civilian nuclear programme. Tehran says it is meant for generating electricity.