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Source: Reuters -
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The White House will shelve US plans to build a missile-defence
system in Poland and the Czech Republic, a move likely to ease
tensions with Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported on
Thursday.
The decision will be based on a US "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," the paper said.
It said the findings were expected to be completed as early as next
week following a 60-day review ordered by President Barack Obama.
The paper cited unnamed current and former US officials for the
report.
The Bush administration had pushed for the defence shield to defend
against what it said was the possibility of Iran developing nuclear
warheads to put on its long-range missiles.
Washington insisted the plan was not directed against Russia, which
said the system was a threat to its own missiles.
Iran denies Western charges that it is seeking to develop nuclear
weapons, and says its missiles are for defense.
Iran and six world powers - the United States, Russia, China,
Britain, France and Germany - are due to start wide-ranging talks
on October 1.
The Journal said the Obama administration's assessment would order
a shift toward the development of regional - and less controversial
- missile defences for Europe.
It said the 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."
The Obama administration has said it wants to "reset" relations
with its Cold War foe, strained by issues such as Russia's 2008 war
with Georgia and proposals to expand NATO to include former Soviet
republics Georgia and Ukraine.
The Journal said the decision to shelve the missile shield plans
would raise alarm in Eastern Europe, where officials have expressed
concern that US efforts to improve relations with Russia would come
at the expense of US allies in the former Soviet bloc.
"The Poles are nervous," it quoted an unnamed senior US military
official as saying.
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