JERUSALEM, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres reportedly proposed last month to persuade the United States to not install a missile system in Europe.
A report in Maariv Monday said Peres made the proposal to garner Russian support for sanctions against Iran,
Peres discussed the matter during a two-day visit to Russia. The newspaper said Peres promised to use Israel's influence in Washington to abort erecting the U.S. missile shield in Poland and Czechoslovakia, in exchange for Russia's support to impose sanctions on Iran and reconsider the delivery of S-300 missile defense systems to the Islamic Republic.
Peres also gave Russian President Dmitry Medvedev assurances that Israel will not attack Iran, the newspaper said.
While Israeli defense officials appeared satisfied with the proposal, they were less satisfied with Peres' assurances that Israel will not attack Iranian nuclear sites, the newspaper said.
Israeli defense officials said all options concerning an attack on Iranian nuclear sites remain open, it said.
Maariv noted that in a recent interview with CNN, Medvedev opted to ignore a question on whether Russia would assist Iran in the event the Islamic Republic comes under attack.
