US President Barack Obama today denied offering Russia a deal in which Washington would slow deployment of a missile defense shield in Europe in exchange for Moscow's help in a nuclear stand-off with Iran.
The New York Timesreported that Obama had sent a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last month suggesting he would back off deploying a new missile defense system if Russia helped stop Iran from developing long-range weapons.
"The report that was in The New York Timesdidn't accurately characterize the letter," Mr Obama said after meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for talks at the White House.
"What I said in the letter is what I have said publicly, which is that the missile defense that we have talked about deploying is directed toward, not Russia, but Iran," he said.
"And what I said ... was that, obviously, to the extent that we are lessening Iran's commitment to nuclear weapons, then that reduces the pressure for, or the need for a missile defense system."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signaled today that Moscow was willing to talk to Washington about the missile defense shield but that Iran's nuclear program, which it is involved in, was a separate issue.
The United States and some European nations, including Britain, fear Iran's nuclear program is a cover to develop atomic weapons. Tehran insists is for the peaceful generation of electricity.
Moscow, which plans to start up a nuclear reactor at Iran's Bushehr plant by the end of the year, has used its veto in the United Nations Security Council on a number of occasions to water down or defeat U.S.-led efforts to impose tougher sanctions on Iran.
Mr Obama has offered Tehran economic incentives if it abandons its nuclear program but he has also warned of tougher economic sanctions if it pushes ahead with it.
Reuters