MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. Russia sees no reasons for the United States to continue its missile defense program in Europe after the nuclear agreement with Iran was reached, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Friday.

"We don’t see any reasons for missile defense to continue in such a rapid pace with a clear projection on Russia’s [nuclear] potential," he said.

The deputy foreign minister accused the  US of making up reasons for establishment of the anti-missile defense (ABM) system in Europe.

The diplomat said Moscow had noted efforts of the US to extend the 2009 comments made by President Barack Obama regarding a necessary ABM system, adding to it a threat from ballistic missiles.

"For the Russian Federation, the situation with use of medium-range ballistic missiles for targets in Europe is impossible," he said. "Thus, we believe Washington is attracting artificial reasons to continue establishment of the European ABM system."

"We have been saying at advanced stages this effect [from ABM in Europe] will have certain devaluating effect for Russian strategic armaments," the diplomat said. "As the issues around the Iranian nuclear program are settled, the US administration has been experiencing problems with reasons, and we shall continue paying attention to this."

In mid-July a group of six powers (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) and Tehran completed the long-term negotiation process to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.