TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's top security official on Monday called US plans for an Eastern Europe missile defense shield that Washington says would protect US allies from Iran a "joke," saying Tehran's missiles do not have the capability to reach Europe.

"Claims by US officials that installing a missile defense system in Europe is aimed at confronting Iranian missiles and protecting Europe against Iran is the joke of the year," Ali Larijani told the state-run IRNA news agency.

"The range of Iran's missiles doesn't reach Europe at all," IRNA quoted Larijani as saying.

The United States has said plans to install a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe is meant to protect NATO allies against a missile launch from Iran.