Russia Links Iran Deal to Missile Defense
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Yuri Kadobnov/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the NATO-U.S. missile defense shield Monday, saying the newly-reached nuclear program deal with Iran means the defense project on the Russian border is unnecessary.
Though the U.S. insists the proposed missile defense system is aimed at defending an attack from Iran, Russian views support the belief that the shield is meant to target Russian missiles.
The international agreement with Iran, which was negotiated by six world powers, freezes major elements of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for an easing of economic sanctions in the country.
After the deal was reached in Geneva on Sunday, the United States released $8 billion of Iranian assets, according to Iranian government spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht.
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