US missile defense plans may signal strike on Iran, Russia warns

Published time: April 06, 2012 10:16
Edited time: April 06, 2012 17:46
Guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (Reuters / Handout)

A unified missile defense system comprising the United States and six Arab states is a signal that a military strike on Iran could be on the horizon, says the Chairman of the State Duma's International Affairs Committee.

"The formation of the missile defense system is a new step to signal the possibility of a military strike on Iran, at least in a political context,"  Alexey Pushkov told a round table conference on Iran at the State Duma.

Pushkov was commenting on reports that the Pentagon has agreed to form a single missile defense system with six Arab states – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

"A missile defense system is only needed in the event that Iran decides to retaliate, since there are no reasons to think that Iran would be the first to launch a strike all of a sudden," Pushkov said.

These latest developments come as the sextet of international mediators – the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany – are preparing for talks with Iran on April 13-14. The talks will focus on Iran’s nuclear research activities, which some countries, including the United States and Israel, believe are being pursued with the aim of building a nuclear weapon.

Tehran vehemently denies the accusations, and says it is developing nuclear energy for the civilian sector.

Some experts say that Israel may be more inclined to launch a preemptive attack on Iran’s nuclear weapons sites at this time, as the United States is occupied with its presidential election season, and President Obama is not in a position to appear weak before the pro-Israeli Republican opposition. Other factors, including Germany’s decision to sell six Dolphin-class submarines to the Israeli Navy, also seem to point to a worst-case scenario brewing.

Pushkov believes Tehran may be underestimating the dangers it faces.

"Iran is underestimating the seriousness of the military threat, I think," he said. "The surgical operation the public opinion is being prepared for may deteriorate into a vast and full-scale regional war."

Pushkov went on to express what could best be described as cautious optimism over the chances of a breakthrough during the upcoming negotiations.

"Much will depend on the talks on Iran's problem," Pushkov told the Russian lawmakers. "Everyone hopes that these talks will be effective. But there is skepticism, too, given that the situation is not abating, but deteriorating, despite a flurry of political and diplomatic activity surrounding the Iranian problem.”

There are indications that the situation around Iran's nuclear work could develop according to the worst-case scenario, he said.

"As you know, we have several scenarios on the table, among them the so-called military scenario of settling the Iranian problem,” Pushkov noted. “Judging by statements made by some countries, this military scenario is becoming increasingly probable."

This arouses serious concerns for Russia, he added.

Robert Bridge, RT

Comments (77)

A.Oscar 24.12.2012 20:15

Enigma Global by A.Oscar I don’t think we have a serious understanding: of what every developed country having in mind with won weapons; special of Mass Destructions, just like a group of pit bulls, which when one of them get a good bite on the other’s neck, than to late to stop such confrontation. I mention several times about such situations: which the human mind didn’t reach the point the problems could create to the Earth. No one wants to back off: and some countries like England may believe too much on USA superiority. We don’t have any country with enough superiority; only altogether yes having the superiority, to destroy or a completely change the environment that the Earth depend to stay the way it is now, still in real danger’s. Why some ‘one without any skills at all; be in charge if a country to dream of what that could do with the weapons of mass destruction having. I could go on and on show what kind of danger real his, but the hard heads of some humans, just like a boil egg read to eat, if somebody real wants’ to eat all in one time only, will suffocated and die. Why we need to please only half a dozen of men; when millions could die, and that not to bad after all, the worse will be the suffering for the ones may survival, and later without any food because can’t produce for long time either. That his if all glaciers in the Antarctica would melt, then for sure will change the cycle of the Oceans by increase the amounted of water which invade land once more like happened before. 24/12/12 A.Oscar   

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The Great American Warrior (unregistered) 20.06.2012 22:07

@ USAMAN     RT is notorious for being nothing but a propganda tool for the Russian government. You can't visit this site seriously expecting to read up on "real" news, or to read objective, well thought out posts on their embarrassing forums. Fact is that most of the RT contributions are from RT staff. Very few real Russians visit RT because it is in English. A very small percentage of Russians speak or read English and those that do have the intelligence to read their news elsewhere. You will notice how the regular anti-West contributors here actually mark up their own posts continuously, whilst marking down anything remotely pro-West. This they do by disabling "cookies", so they can vote as many times as they want. You would think these sad souls had better  things to do than hitting the refresh button just to vote you down or up. RT is a fun site to visit if you just want to make fun of some ahsole who hasn't realised yet that his bitterness towards the West is all to do with what they have and he doesn't, period.

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Visionary (unregistered) 20.06.2012 17:07

New World Order wrote in #1
The Russians are stating what all of us can see plainly and clearly. The Russians seem to have problem respecting lessons of history. The Russians have forgotten the lessons imperial wars of the past such as coalition of French, British and Turkeys against imperial Russia in the battle of the Crimea. The Russians know war on Libya was against Russia; that war on Syria is against Russia and that war against Iran is against Russia. What we would like to know why Russians is not providing all the possible defense weapons to Iran? ....... .................... .................... .................... .................... .......Did you ever think that defense wepons are best when you do not know how to avoid intercepts? By giving the latest to Syria or Iran Russia would loose advantage, therefore only older systems are provided.

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