Lavrov: After deal with Iran no need for missile system for Europe

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov Wednesday stated that NATO does not need a new missile defence shield after the interim agreement between Iran and the 5+1 Group in Geneva. Speaking at a press conference at NATO headquarters after a meeting with NATO foreign ministers, he said that "some of the colleagues expressed their content and appreciation with the progress and even a breakthrough in terms of the Iran nuclear programme." "We noted that if the arrangement is implemented fully, if the Iranian nuclear programme will be closed completely and if the Iranian nuclear programme will be under strict control by the IAEA then there will be no reasons for creating missile defence system in Europe," he added. Lavrov was speaking in Russian with English interpretation. He said the NATO-Russia Council today discussed cooperation between the two sides, common threats and challenges, terrorism, Afghanistan, piracy. He said we need to understand the tasks, goals and mandate of the new NATO mission in Afghanistan after 2014. "They should be working on strict basis on the form of the Security Council resolution," he added