U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday dismissed as inaccurate a report he had linked U.S. plans for a missile defense shield to Russian help on Iran in a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Obama had offered the deal in a letter hand-delivered to Medvedev in Moscow last month by top administration officials.

Obama said the report did not "accurately characterize the letter."

Medvedev's spokeswoman earlier confirmed receipt of the letter but said it contained no concrete proposals.

Reuters