Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn said the United States is focused on countering threats from Iran's missile program, but indicated it may opt not to deploy missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic, which faces strong Russian opposition.

"We think there are a number of ways to address that (Iranian) threat, one of the options is to deploy the missiles in Poland and the radar Czech Republic and we are certainly evaluating that option as well as other possible options.

"We have not made a decision to go forward with that at this point," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senators John McCain, a Republican, and Joe Lieberman, an independent, pressed Lynn on whether his remarks signaled a reversal of deals made with the Czech Republic and Poland during the administration of president George W. Bush.

Saying he was "troubled" by Lynn's comments, Lieberman said they "sounded much more tentative that I thought our policy was."

McCain said: "From my discussions with the Polish foreign minister and others, their interpretation of our commitment was a lot stronger than that."

Prague and Warsaw drew fire from some allies in the European Union for agreeing to take part in the system, which critics say is unproven and unnecessarily provoked Russia.

The deal also provided Poland with high-tech US air defense system that includes a battery of Patriot missiles, which Russia contends poses a threat to its security.

Lynn acknowledged Russian opposition to the plan to base interceptor missiles and a radar in central Europe, but indicated Russia could be part of the solution.

"We are looking at the alternatives in Europe, including the Polish-Czech option to defend against an Iranian missile threat. We are exploring the cooperation with the Russians... as a potential additive to that architecture."

Moscow in the past has offered the use of its facilities near the Iranian border as an early warning system against missile strikes instead of the Czech radar.

In April, President Barack Obama broadly backed a continuation of the missile defense program.

"As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward with a missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven," he told crowds in the Czech capital.

Obama is expected to visit Moscow next month, where missile defense will undoubtedly be on the agenda.

Ahead of that trip, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said he sees a new willingness in Russia to help deal with the Iranian threat, raising the possibility of a deal.

Congress is currently considering President Obama's missile defense funding request for 2010, which is worth 7.8 billion dollars.

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