The New York Times reveals that President Barack Obama has offered Moscow a deal whereby Washington would drop plans to install an anti-missile shield in Poland and Czech Republic in return for help to stop Iran becoming a nuclear power.

Anonymous officials at the State Department inform the NYT that President Obama sent the offer by letter last month, in an attempt to create a common front against Iran. Russia has offered Tehran help in the past to construct a nuclear power station.

The offer will be discussed between Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov in Geneva on Friday.

While at the informal meeting of NATO ministers in Krakow, south Poland,  Secretary of Defence Robert Gates tied the issue of the anti-missile shield – which Russia has always passionately opposed – with Iran, saying, “If there was no threat from Iran then there would be no need for the anti-missile shield.” (pg)