WASHINGTON --As the Obama administration edges toward imposing tougher sanctions on Iran, it has begun upgrading its approach to defending its Arab Gulf allies against potential Iranian missile strikes, officials said on Sunday. The United States has quietly increased the capability of land-based Patriot defensive missiles in several Gulf Arab nations, and one military official said the Navy is beefing up the presence of ships capable of knocking down hostile missiles in flight. The officials discussed aspects of the defensive strategy on condition of anonymity because some elements are classified. The moves have been in the works for months and are part of a broader adjustment in the US approach to missile defence, including in Europe and Asia. Details have not been publicly announced, in part because of diplomatic sensitivities in Gulf countries which worry about Iranian military capabilities but are cautious about acknowledging US protection. The administration will send a review of ballistic missile strategy to Congress on Monday that frames the larger shifts. Attention to defense of the Gulf region, a focus on diffuse networks of sensors and weapons and cooperation with Russia are major elements of the study, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. Russia opposed Bush administration plans for a land-based missile defence site in Eastern Europe, and President Barack Obama's decision to walk away from that plan last year was partly in pursuit of new capabilities that might hold greater promise and partly in deference to Russia.
