Putin sees change in U.S. position on missile defense

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, using unusually positive language, said on Tuesday that there had been a "certain transformation" in the U.S. position on missile defense and added that talks would continue.

"The latest contacts with the American partners showed that there is a certain transformation in their position and we will continue the dialogue," Putin said in an interview with Iranian media which was released to Russian journalists traveling with him.

Putin did not give further details but he held talks in Moscow at the end of last week with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.