TEHRAN, April 7 (RIA Novosti) - Iran's defense minister said on Monday the world needs a missile shield to protect against threats from Israel and the United States.

Tehran has joined Russia in opposing U.S. plans to deploy elements of its missile defense system in Central Europe to counter possible strikes from "rogue states," specifically Iran.

"If the world needs an anti-missile shield, it must be used to counter missiles and the nuclear menace coming from the U.S. and Israel, which directly or indirectly threaten different countries with aggression and war," Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said.

The minister said U.S. claims that the European missile shield would defend against Iran's missiles were nothing but a sham.

"Our country's missile arsenal is purely defense-oriented and is only a threat to aggressors," the minister said.

Washington plans to deploy interceptor missiles in Poland in addition to installing radars in the Czech Republic. The ten missiles in Poland could be placed on duty by 2013.

Najjar said Tehran was open to cooperation with every country except Israel, which Iran does not recognize, to ensure stability and security in the Middle East.