Iran's visiting Defense Minister in Moscow says the expanding eastward policy adopted by the NATO threatens the security of the region.

Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar, Iran's Defense Minister said Tuesday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was jeopardizing the regional stability by seeking to expand its presence in the region.

NATO has long pondered a membership for former Soviet Union states, such as Ukraine and Georgia. The move has been strongly opposed by the Kremlin.

Moscow has warned that the NATO strategy could create the potential for a fierce conflict between Russia and the bloc.

Brig. Gen. Najjar made the remarks in a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Anatoly Serdyukov, in Moscow.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the two ministers had participated in "constructive" talks which looked at the present and the future of Russian-Iranian defense relations.

Russian media and news agencies have reported that Najjar during his visit will urge Moscow to fulfill a controversial contract for the delivery of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Tehran.

"It is not ruled out that during the talks the Iranian side will raise the question about fulfilling the contract for the delivery of the S-300," the Interfax news agency quoted a military source as saying.

The S-300 system has been long targeted by the Tehran government to ensure the safety of its nuclear infrastructure which Israeli officials threaten to strike.

MD/HGH