HEILIGENDAMM, Germany, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said here Friday that Russia's relations with Iran would not be affected by his proposal to the United States to jointly use with Russia the Gabala radar base in Azerbaijan.

    "I don't think this will lead to the deterioration of our relations with Iran because the radar base has been operating there for a long time," he said at a press conference after the conclusion of the summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations.

    The Russian leader said he did not believe Iran was planning missile attacks against Western nations.

    Putin made the proposal to U.S. President George W. Bush during their meeting here Thursday.

    Putin told Bush that he would not oppose a U.S. plan of deploying a missile defense shield in Europe if it was set up in Azerbaijan.

    Washington has not said whether they would accept the initiative, with the White House saying it is yet to be studied by military experts from both sides.

    Bush said he and Putin would discuss the proposal at their summit on July 1-2 at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.

    Washington plans to place a radar system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in neighboring Poland in the name of defending possible attacks from Iran.

    Russia has accused Washington of raising a new arms race in the region, which Washington denies.