Russia: US Does Not Need Missile Defense Shield After Iran Deal

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov says the shield is "no longer valid"

MOSCOW, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov said Friday the U.S. need to contain Iran with a missile defense problem is "no longer valid."

The U.S. government says it needs a missile defense system in Eastern Europe to protect the region from threats emanating from North Korea and Iran. Meshkov said last month's interim nuclear deal between Iran and its Western negotiating partners suggested the risk from Iran was eliminated.