From correspondents in Moscow, Russia, 06:30 PM IST

Iran's ongoing long-range missile tests prove the uselessness of US plans to build a missile shield in Eastern Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

The tests 'confirm what we have been saying, that under its current parameters the plan to build a US missile defense system in Europe is not needed to monitor or respond to such missiles,' Lavrov was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying.

Iran conducted missile tests Wednesday and Thursday, firing medium-and long-range missiles during exercises in the Gulf.

'The tests only show that Iran now has rockets that reach up to 2,000 km,' Lavrov said.

The Russian minister made the comments at a joint press conference with Jordan's Foreign Minister Salaheddine Bashir, who was visiting Moscow in preparation for a Middle East Peace Conference to be held in the capital.

Russia views as a threat to its security US plans to site elements of a missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland, but Washington says the shield is necessary to defend against 'rogue states.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)