MOSCOW, Dec 15, SPA -- U.S. officials are holding talks with Russiaon the divisive subject of missile defense and on otherarms and security issues, AP reported. The U.S. says its plans for missile shield installationsin Poland and the Czech Republic would counter a potentialthreat from Iran. Russia claims the real aim is to weakenits nuclear deterrent. Russia is already pressuring the incoming administrationof President-elect Barack Obama to scrap the plans and hasthreatened to deploy missiles near the Polish border. Monday's talks were also to address efforts to negotiate afollow-on deal to the 1991 START nuclear arms agreement,which expires in a year. The U.S. delegation is led by John Rood, the actingundersecretary of state for arms control and internationalsecurity.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/616484