Iran test-fires more missiles

Tehran: Iran test-fired more long-range missiles overnight in a second round of exercises meant to show that the country can defend itself against any attack by the US or Israel, Iranian state media reported on Thursday.

The weapons have "special capabilities" and included missiles launched from naval ships in the Gulf, along with torpedoes and surface-to-surface missiles, the broadcast said, without further elaboration.

"Deep in the (Arabian) Gulf waters, the launch of different types of ground-to-sea, surface-to-surface, sea-to-air and the powerful launch of the Hout missile successfully took place," state radio said without giving further details of the missiles.

Iran made similar tests on Wednesday, prompting the White House to call for the Islamic Republic to halt all further trials if it wants to gain the world's trust.

But a defiant Iran rejected such calls and continued its ongoing military maneuvers on Thursday.

Iran has said the missiles could hit Israeli and US bases. It also said earlier that if attacked, it would target US interests across the world, including Tel Aviv.

On a visit to the former Soviet republic of Georgia, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Washington was sending a message to Iran that it would defend American interests and those of its allies.

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