Iran seems to be winning in its diplomatic derive as diplomats said NATO summit in Lisbon would not mention Iran as a missile threat in the public document they adopt.

Turkey said it would refuse to sign up to a NATO document that names Iran as the threat in the final declaration.

In addition, an French officials at the presidential office in Paris told reporters that Iran will not figure as a missile threat in the public declaration.

"This will not figure in those words in the document that we are to adopt," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“We will not put the origin of the emerging menace in black and white in the documents to be adopted."

The French official did not give a reason for omitting a mention of Iran from the NATO document, but Turkish President Abdullah Gul had said 10 days ago that identifying Iran "is wrong and will not happen."

Even if Iran is left out of the final declaration, allies were still debating Thursday whether to mention Iran in a list of countries identified in a confidential threat assessment, a NATO diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters on Monday that there was "no reason to name specific countries."

"The fact is that more than 30 countries have, or are aspiring to get missile technologies with a range sufficient to hit targets in the Euro-Atlantic area," he said.

Meanwhile, Turkey's prime minister has signaled he is open to participating in U.S.-led plans for a NATO missile defense shield but only if Ankara is given significant control over the project, Turkish media reported.

NATO states are to agree to extend protection of NATO armed forces from missile attack to cover alliance territory by linking existing national systems to US radars and interceptors, NATO officials say.

The United States plans to install elements of its system in Poland, Romania and possibly Turkey, although Turkey has yet to decide whether to be a host.

"The issue is who will have its command," Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying in Turkish media on Tuesday.

"It should definitely be given to us, especially if it is a plan within our borders, covering our land. Otherwise it is impossible to accept such a thing."

Erdogan gave no further details, but Turkish media interpreted his remarks as suggesting Turkey wanted to keep control over any part of the shield on Turkish territory.

NATO officials have said the system is intended to counter ballistic threats from the Middle East, in particular Iran, with which Turkey has established closer ties in recent years.

However, given Turkish objections to singling out states such as Iran as threats, NATO has stopped referring specifically to Tehran when explaining the need for the system, and the Lisbon summit is not expected to name individual countries.