Iran has test-fired two long-range missiles which defence analysts say are capable of hitting Israel or US bases in the Gulf region.
The state-sponsored Press TV news channel said that the Shahab 3 and Sejil missiles were fired on Monday, the second day of military exercises by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
Britain, France and the European Union all expressed their "concern" after the tests, which come just days before Tehran is due to meet the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with Germany, to discuss its nuclear programme.
"We call on Iran to choose the path of co-operation rather than confrontation, by immediately ceasing these deeply destabilising activities," a statement from the French foreign ministry said.
Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, said that the tests were consistent with the "provocative nature with which Iran has acted on the world stage".
He urged Tehran to allow "unfettered access" to its nuclear facilities and said there was an "international consensus" to address the issue
Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, also voiced concern about the missile tests.
"Of course it is worrisome when missile launches happen against the backdrop of an unresolved situation concerning Iran's nuclear programme," Russian news agencies quoted him as saying.
Lavrov was speaking to Russian reporters in New York after meeting his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, whom he said he urged to be "maximally co-operative" with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in investigating the construction of a new uranium enrichment plant.
Source: Al Jazeera (English)
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