MOSCOW, October 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's defense minister criticized Tuesday NATO's plans to deploy anti-ballistic missile defense systems in Poland.

The United States has ambitious plans to deploy a network of anti-missile systems across the world to protect itself and its allies from threats from countries such as Iran and North Korea, and there has been speculation they would be based in at least two former Communist-bloc countries, which Russia sees as a threat to its national security.

"The announced purpose [of the deployment] is the interception of Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles, which have never existed and will not exist in the near future," said Sergei Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister.

"I think everyone here understands against whom they [anti-ballistic missile defense systems] can be used," Ivanov said, supposedly referring to Russia.

He said Russia regarded the plans as "a destabilizing element and an attempt to shift the strategic balance."

Ivanov said he was surprised by Poland's interest in the project, but dismissed fears that Poland could become a potential target of Russia's armed forces if such systems are deployed there.