- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

US Stands on Need for European Missile Defense Regardless of Iran Deal

© AFP 2023 / JANEK SKARZYNSKI This picture taken on March 21, 2015 shows US troops from the 5th Battalion of the 7th Air Defense Regiment emplace a launching station of the Patriot air and missile defence system at a test range in Sochaczew, Poland
This picture taken on March 21, 2015 shows US troops from the 5th Battalion of the 7th Air Defense Regiment emplace a launching station of the Patriot air and missile defence system at a test range in Sochaczew, Poland - Sputnik International
Subscribe
US State Department official stated that United States will not change its stance on the need for missile defense systems in Europe even after a preliminary deal was struck last week by the P5+1 and Tehran Group on Iran’s nuclear program.

Pentagon - Sputnik International
US Ballistic Missile Defense Costs Rise Nearly 6 Percent
MOSCOW (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov The United States will not change its stance on the need for missile defense systems in Europe even after a preliminary deal was struck last week by the P5+1 and Tehran Group on Iran’s nuclear program, a US State Department official told Sputnik in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

“A successful resolution of the nuclear issue with Iran would not obviate the need for ballistic missile defenses. [US] President [Barack] Obama said last Thursday that US sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program will continue to be fully enforced,” the official said on conditions of anonymity.

The official said that Iran’s ballistic missile capability remains a threat and “continues to be a source of concern to us and the international community.”

The United States will continue developing its European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) plans that include missile defense systems placed in Eastern Europe because of possible ballistic missile threats from Iran, a US State Department official said.

“The United States remains committed to the security of our Allies and Partners against possible ballistic missile threats, including those posed by Iran and its non-state proxies in the region,” the official said on conditions of anonymity.

Last week, a preliminary deal was struck between the P5+1 Group and Tehran on Iran’s nuclear program. US President Barack Obama said last week that the deal would not alleviate concerns in regard to Iran.

“Our commitment to the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA), including the facilities in Romania and Poland, is ironclad,” the official added.

On April 3, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told Sputnik that the military bloc would go ahead with its plans to deploy a fully-fledged missile defense network in Europe despite the Lausanne deal.

In 2009, the United States and NATO agreed to the European Phased Adaptive Approach to ballistic missile defense in Europe.

Russia has raised concerns over the close proximity of the ballistic missile systems to its borders. Moscow has also expressed concerns that such deployments could upset the strategic balance.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала