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US 'offers Russia deal over Iran' US 'offers Russia deal over Iran'
(21 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has reportedly written to his Russian counterpart suggesting co-operation in blocking Iranian missile plans. US President Barack Obama has written to his Russian counterpart suggesting co-operation in blocking Iranian missile plans.
Mr Obama said the US would back off deploying a missile defence system if Russia helped stop Iran developing long-range weapons, US media reported.Mr Obama said the US would back off deploying a missile defence system if Russia helped stop Iran developing long-range weapons, US media reported.
They said the letter was hand-delivered three weeks ago and details have only just been given by anonymous sources. The letter, delivered last month, was a response to an earlier Russian letter.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has not responded to the reports. The Kremlin said that although co-operation on Iran and missile defence were mentioned, they were not linked.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has not spoken publicly about the letter.
'Iranian threat''Iranian threat'
The New York Times newspaper quoted a senior Obama administration as saying: "It's almost saying to them, put up or shut up.The New York Times newspaper quoted a senior Obama administration as saying: "It's almost saying to them, put up or shut up.
"It's not that the Russians get to say, 'We'll try and therefore you have to suspend.' It says the threat has to go away." Will Russia accept US deal?"It's not that the Russians get to say, 'We'll try and therefore you have to suspend.' It says the threat has to go away." Will Russia accept US deal?
The paper added that "the letter was intended to give Moscow an incentive to join the United States in a common front against Iran".The paper added that "the letter was intended to give Moscow an incentive to join the United States in a common front against Iran".
The Washington Post also quoted an anonymous administration source as saying the letter included "the issue of missile defence and how it relates to the Iranian threat".The Washington Post also quoted an anonymous administration source as saying the letter included "the issue of missile defence and how it relates to the Iranian threat".
The US says its planned missile defence system in central Europe is intended to destroy incoming ballistic missiles potentially coming from North Korea and Iran.The US says its planned missile defence system in central Europe is intended to destroy incoming ballistic missiles potentially coming from North Korea and Iran.
As the Iranian military says its missiles have a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles), they could reach south-eastern Europe, potentially hitting targets in Greece, Bulgaria or Romania, all Nato members.As the Iranian military says its missiles have a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles), they could reach south-eastern Europe, potentially hitting targets in Greece, Bulgaria or Romania, all Nato members.
US meetingUS meeting
But Russia says that this limited range means that the US missile defence plan is unnecessary.But Russia says that this limited range means that the US missile defence plan is unnecessary.
It sees Washington's plans to base such a system in Europe as a direct threat.It sees Washington's plans to base such a system in Europe as a direct threat.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has previously said that negotiations, not threats, are the best way to deal with concerns about Iranian intentions.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has previously said that negotiations, not threats, are the best way to deal with concerns about Iranian intentions.
He is set to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday, with Mr Obama and Mr Medvedev due to meet for the first time on 2 April in London.He is set to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday, with Mr Obama and Mr Medvedev due to meet for the first time on 2 April in London.
Last month, US Vice-President Joe Biden said the US wanted to "press the reset button" in ties with Russia after a "dangerous drift" in recent years.Last month, US Vice-President Joe Biden said the US wanted to "press the reset button" in ties with Russia after a "dangerous drift" in recent years.