NATO rejects Iranian criticism of Patriot deployment to Turkey

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Monday rejected Iranian criticism of the alliance's deployment of Patriot missiles to defend Turkey against cross-border attacks from Syria, dpa reported.

On Saturday Iran warned that the planned deployment of Patriots would not improve security but only increase tensions.

"With this plan, the West is preparing another world war, which would also be dangerous for Europe itself," Iranian army chief Hassan Firouzabadi said according to ISNA news agency.

"I completely denounce these allegations," Rasmussen said. "We have made clear right from the outset that the deployment of Patriots is a purely defensive measure."

"We are there to defend and protect our ally Turkey," the NATO chief said.

"The only actors that might be concerned about this purely defensive deployment are actors that might have silly ideas to use their missile capabilities for offensive purposes," Rasmussen added.

"I hope the fact that we deploy Patriot missiles in Turkey can act as an effective deterrent, so that no one would even think about attacking Turkey," he concluded.

The United States, Germany and the Netherlands are to provide Patriot batteries for the NATO mission.


/Trend/