CNN BREAKING NEWS: IRAN TEST FIRES MORE MISSILES ONE DAY AFTER TEST FIRING 9 MISSILES

Reports: Iran test-fires more missiles

Story Highlights
Iran test-fires more missiles, says Iran's Press TV, one day after other test-fires
Rice: U.S. determined to prevent Iran from threatening its interests or those of allies
Adds that missile defense shield in Eastern Europe could help head off threat
Rice to Iran: Get on the right side of the international community, accept incentives

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/10/us.iran/index.html#cnnSTCText

(CNN) -- Iran test-fired more missiles Thursday, according to Iran's Press TV, one day after it tested a long-range Shahab-3 and other missiles in the Persian Gulf region.

The test came only hours after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States is determined to prevent Iran from threatening its interests or those of its allies.

At a news conference in the Georgian capital of Tblisi, Rice said the United States has been working with allies to "make certain that they are capable of defending themselves" against any threat from Iran.

"We take very strongly our obligation to help our allies defend themselves and no one should be confused about that," Rice said.

She said a missile defense shield the United States hopes to create in Eastern Europe would be another way to head off any threat from Iran.

See where Iran's missiles could strike »

"These are all elements of America's intention and determination to prevent Iran from threatening our interests or the interests of our friends and allies, and I don't think the Iranians are too confused, either, about the capability and the power of the United States to do exactly that," she said.

The forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had test-fired a Shahab-3 missile and several others during war games in the Persian Gulf, an Iranian commander said Wednesday.
The exercises came a month after Israel conducted a military drill in the eastern Mediterranean involving dozens of warplanes and aerial tanks.

The tests prompted condemnation from the United States and Israel. It is believed the longer-range Shahab-4 missile, when finished, would have the capability to hit parts of Europe, a U.S. intelligence official said.

Rice encouraged Iran to "get on the right side of the international community" by accepting a package of incentives put forward by China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States -- the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- as well as Germany.

Iran "ought to be talking about that, not about threats against America or threats against America's allies because frankly it's not going to do them any good."

Rice's comments came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that Iran's test of a long-range missile shows the need for the United States to expand its missile defense system into Europe.

"We've been saying as we talk about missile defense in Europe that there is a real threat, and the test this morning underscores it," Gates said hours after Iran's test.

Watch Gates call Iran a 'real threat' »