Russian envoy to NATO to visit Iran, China

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin will visit Iran and China in mid-January to discuss a U.S.-backed global missile defense network, specially its main components in Poland, Romania and Turkey.

"We are planning to visit both Tehran and Beijing soon under the Russian president's directive, to discuss the planned deployment of a global missile defense network," Rogozin said during a roundtable meeting at the lower house of the Russian parliament.

Rogozin said he will meet with the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili and diplomats in Iran, and hold talks with Foreign Ministry and General Staff officials in China, Fars News Agency reported.

Last week Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that Russia will deploy, if necessary, offensive weaponry in the southern and western parts of the country to target elements of the European missile shield.