Iran: Russia will block US missile defense plan

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Iran said Sunday it had received indications from Russia's president that he would not follow through with an offer to allow the US to use a radar station in neighboring Azerbaijan for missile defense against Teheran.

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Washington use a radar station in northeast Azerbaijan rented by Moscow to counter a potential threat from Iran, a surprise counteroffer to US plans to install a missile defense shield in eastern Europe to protect NATO allies against a missile launch by Teheran.

But Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Sunday that Russia officials had indicated to Teheran that Putin would not allow the plan to go through.

"It seems Russia does not plan to make decisions that may cause instability and insecurity in the region, where it (Russia) is located" said Hosseini. Azerbaijan shares borders with both Russia to the north and Iran to the south.