Iran was trying to demonstrate its resolve over a possible confrontation with the U.S. and Israel, not unveiling a new military capability with its test of a long- range missile, American and Israeli analysts and officials said.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today that Iran knows it will have to confront the "power and capability of the United States'' if it fires the Shahab-3 missile at Israel.
"We are sending a message to Iran that we will defend American interests and the interests of our allies,'' Rice told reporters in Tbilisi, where she met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Iran test-fired missiles yesterday and again today. One of the missiles, the Shahab-3, has the range to reach Israel and U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said yesterday that the chances of a military conflict with Iran weren't increased by the test-firing. "What we're seeing is a lot of signaling going on,'' Gates said during a Pentagon news conference yesterday.
Gates said U.S. leaders remain committed to using diplomatic and economic pressure to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program and "are working hard to make sure'' that this strategy dominates efforts to resolve the conflict.
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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Georgia to meet the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
At the same time, Russia has confirmed its airforce flew over Georgian air space. An act which was used "to cool hot heads in Tbilisi", according to the Russia's foreign ministry.
This statement is Russia's first admission for at least a decade that its airforce has flown over Georgian territory. Georgia has alleged in the past that Russia trespassed in its airspace but Moscow has always denied it.
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