Tehran, November 16: Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says the deployment of a missile defense shield in the Middle East is aimed at protecting and supporting Israel.
“The main issue regarding this measure is to support and protect the Zionist regime (Israel) against aggressions and crimes that this regime carries out,” Mehmanparast said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
There are “serious doubts” over the deployment of the missile defense system in the region, he further explained.
This comes as the United States has asked Turkey to host NATO-planned missile system on its territory.
Mehmanparast reiterated that Turkey is a “neighboring friend” of Iran, adding that both countries remain in touch regarding regional and international developments.
He, however, said that placing the system in Turkey has raised concerns among regional and Muslim countries and Turkish officials have been notified about the issue.
The Iranian spokesman hoped that through consultations regional countries would not allow such measures in the Middle East.
Mehmanparast also pointed out that regional countries were well capable of providing security in the region without the need to resort to foreign forces, calling on regional courtiers to remain vigilant.
Turkey will announce its final decision on the missile system at the November 18-19 NATO summit in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
Although a NATO project, the so-called “defense shield” system has mainly been planned and sponsored by the United States.
——–Agencies