The White House will shelve US plans to build a missile-defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic, a move likely to ease tensions with Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported today.
The decision will be based on a U.S. "determination that Iran's long-range missile programme has not progressed as rapidly as previously estimated, reducing the threat to the continental U.S. and major European capitals," the paper said.
It said the findings were expected to be completed as early as next week following a 60-day review ordered by President Barack Obama. The paper cited unnamed current and former U.S. officials for the report.
The Bush administration had pushed for the defence shield to defend against what it said was the possibility of Iran developing nuclear warheads to put on its long-range missiles.
Washington insisted the plan was not directed against Russia, which said the system was a threat to its own missiles.
Iran denies Western charges that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, and says its missiles are for defense.
Iran and six world powers -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- are due to start wide-ranging talks on Oct. 1.
The Journal said the Obama administration's assessment would order a shift toward the development of regional -- and less controversial -- missile defenses for Europe.
It said the administration "was expected to leave open the option of restarting the Polish and Czech system if Iran makes advances in its long-range missiles in the future."
The Obama administration has said it wants to "reset" relations with its Cold War foe, strained by issues such as Russia's 2008 war with Georgia and proposals to expand NATO to include former Soviet republics Georgia and Ukraine.
The Journal said the decision to shelve the missile shield plans would raise alarm in Eastern Europe, where officials have expressed concern that US efforts to improve relations with Russia would come at the expense of US allies in the former Soviet bloc.
"The Poles are nervous," it quoted an unnamed senior U.S. military official as saying.