TEHRAN, June 4, SPA -- Iran's top security official on Monday called U.S. plans for an Eastern Europe missile defense shield that Washington says would protect U.S. allies from Iran a «joke,» saying Tehran's missiles do not have the capability to reach Europe. «Claims by U.S. officials that installing a missiledefense system in Europe is aimed at confronting Iranianmissiles and protecting Europe against Iran is the joke ofthe year,» Ali Larijani told the state-run IRNA newsagency. «The range of Iran's missiles doesn't reach Europe atall,» IRNA quoted Larijani as saying. The United States has said plans to install a missiledefense shield in Eastern Europe is meant to protect NATO allies against a missile launch from Iran. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/455728