US 'shelves Europe missile plan'

Iran has held regular tests of its long-range missiles

The US is to abandon its plan to develop a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic, the Czech prime minister has announced.

Earlier reports from the US said it would be dropped because Iran's long-range missile plans were less advanced than predicted.

Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer said US President Barack Obama had notified him of the change of plan.

The plan had antagonised Russia, which saw it as a direct threat.

President Obama earlier this year ordered a review of the defence system, introduced by his predecessor George W Bush.

European protection

From different sources we hear there are serious chances the shield won't be deployed here Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer Have Your Say: Missile defence

In August 2008, the US signed a deal with Poland to site interceptors at a base near the Baltic Sea, and with the Czech Republic to build a radar station on its territory.

Mr Fischer said Mr Obama had confirmed that this would no longer happen.

The missile shield was expected to be fully operational by 2012.

Washington said the European sites were needed to protect European allies and US forces in Europe from Iran or another country.

However, the Wall Street Journal reported: "The US will base its decision on a determination that Iran's long-range missile program has not progressed as rapidly as previously estimated, reducing the threat to the continental US and major European capitals, according to current and former US officials."

Short-range threat

The newspaper, quoting unnamed sources, said the White House would order "a shift towards the development of regional missile defences for the Continent" to combat the threat from Iran's short- and medium-range missiles.

Mr Fischer said a US delegation would make an announcement later on Thursday.

ANALYSIS BBC World Affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds The decision would be a huge shift in American foreign and defence policy by the Obama administration. It is a major signal that the US is adopting a far more cautious foreign policy under President Obama. The Russians will be pleased by the news and therefore relations will be eased. But they might also feel triumphant and conclude that their tough approach is one that brings respect and results. The move might also indicate that the Obama team will be looking sceptically at claims Iran is developing an actual nuclear weapon. There will also be debates about the long-term US commitment to Europe. Meanwhile, on the military side, this decision would herald a shift of emphasis in the whole US anti-missile defence strategy. US missile rethink a huge shift

Iran says its missile development programme is solely for scientific, surveillance or defensive purposes, but there are concerns in the West and among Iran's neighbours that the rockets could be used to carry nuclear weapons.

As part of long-running efforts to tackle the issue, Iran will hold talks on its nuclear programme on 1 October with the UK, China, France, Russia and the US - the five permanent UN Security Council members - and Germany.

'Rogue' states

The Wall Street Journal said the Obama administration "was expected to leave open the option of restarting the Polish and Czech system if Iran makes advances in its long-range missiles in the future."

Russia saw the US missile plan as a direct threat to itself, despite US assurances that it was aimed at "rogue" states, such as Iran.

A Russian foreign minister spokesman was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying Russia was awaiting confirmation of the reports.

"In principle, such a development of the situation would correspond to the interests of the development of our bilateral relations with the USA," the spokesman said.

In November, Russia moved its own ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad, between Nato member states Lithuania and Poland to "neutralise - if necessary - the [US] anti-missile system", President Dmitry Medvedev said at the time.

Mr Medvedev also said Russia would jam the US anti-missile system electronically.

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