US remark joke of the year, says Iran

A claim by the United States that Iran poses a ballistic missile threat to Europe is laughable, Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani has said.

"It's the joke of the year," he was quoted by Iran's official state news agency as saying. "These days, the Americans tell a lot of jokes. Iranian missiles are incapable of reaching Europe and it is very unlikely that they (the Americans) do not know it."

"What is more, Europe is our biggest commercial partner. What reason would we have to do such a thing?" he said yesterday.

The United States wants to deploy elements of its anti-missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland, despite the objections of Russia.

Washington says it is designed to defend against a missile attack from the Middle East, notably Iran.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would point missiles at European targets if the US expands its nuclear defenses near its borders.
Tehran, June 04, 2007
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*DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Do you think that the United States is being “laughable” for trying to defend itself from Iranian missiles?

The anti-missile defense system is seen as a threat to Russia. Why do you think that Russia is so against it?

Do you think that the United States should continue this project; despite the objections from Russia?

What does Russia’s reaction to the US anti-missile plan say about the current political climate and relationship between the US, Europe and Russia?

*REMEMBER TO BE RESPECTFUL
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