Washington DC:
The White House called Iran's missile test on Monday a "provocative" act and said it justified the Obama administration's rationale for redesigning its missile defence programme.
Earlier on Monday, Iran tested its most advanced version of its medium-range missiles - with a range of up to 1,200 miles - putting Israel and US military bases in the Middle East in range.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs described Iran's recent missile tests as "preplanned military exercises," which he said supported the decision "to change from something that dealt virtually only with an ICBM threat and dealt more with medium to intermediate range missiles."
The tests come just days before meetings between Iran and six world powers on the issue of Iran's nuclear programme.
Gibbs said Tehran now faces a crucial decision.
"They can continue the path that they've been on, even while the world has shown conclusive intelligence about a facility in Qom, or it can make a decision to step away from its nuclear weapons programme," he said.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said Monday's test was part of long-planned military exercises and had nothing to do with the recent revelation that Iran had been building a secret second nuclear facility.
Iran says its uranium enrichment programme is for the peaceful purpose of creating nuclear energy.
At the State Department on Monday, spokesman PJ Crowley said the United States is concerned by Tehran's behaviour.
He said Iran is "taking a page from the North Korean playbook," suggesting that Iran is deliberately trying to provoke the international community.
"I think it's time for Iran to come clean," Crowley said.
If the talks this week fail, the US and its negotiating partners will have to wrestle with tough questions about how and when to sanction Iran.
Earlier on Monday, Iran tested its most advanced version of its medium-range missiles - with a range of up to 1,200 miles - putting Israel and US military bases in the Middle East in range.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs described Iran's recent missile tests as "preplanned military exercises," which he said supported the decision "to change from something that dealt virtually only with an ICBM threat and dealt more with medium to intermediate range missiles."
The tests come just days before meetings between Iran and six world powers on the issue of Iran's nuclear programme.
Gibbs said Tehran now faces a crucial decision.
"They can continue the path that they've been on, even while the world has shown conclusive intelligence about a facility in Qom, or it can make a decision to step away from its nuclear weapons programme," he said.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said Monday's test was part of long-planned military exercises and had nothing to do with the recent revelation that Iran had been building a secret second nuclear facility.
Iran says its uranium enrichment programme is for the peaceful purpose of creating nuclear energy.
At the State Department on Monday, spokesman PJ Crowley said the United States is concerned by Tehran's behaviour.
He said Iran is "taking a page from the North Korean playbook," suggesting that Iran is deliberately trying to provoke the international community.
"I think it's time for Iran to come clean," Crowley said.
If the talks this week fail, the US and its negotiating partners will have to wrestle with tough questions about how and when to sanction Iran.
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