The United States has agreed to place advanced missile detection systems in Israel.
SeniorU.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, say the systemswill give Israel an extra layer of protection in case of an attack byIran.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak confirmed the deal. Officials say the systems will be set up in Israel before a new U.S.president takes office in January.
The main system, calledX-band radar, is the most powerful U.S. radar system, and can trackmedium- and long-range missiles in space. It can also be used to targetincoming missiles and shoot them out of the sky.
The U.S. already employs the radar technology in Japan and hopes to deploy it soon in the Czech Republic.
U.S. officials say the agreement will also allow the two countries to share early launch data.
Barak,in Washington for a series of meetings, said both the U.S. and Israeligovernments agree that they need to keep all options on the table whenit comes to Iran.
He told reporters Tuesday that Iran is aserious threat to world stability and order. Barak said he discussedthe issue this week with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice andU.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Israel's air force carriedout a large-scale exercise in June that was interpreted by many as arehearsal for a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.