US denies conflict after Iran missile tests
Updated
A senior official of the Bush administration says the United States and Iran are not close to military conflict.
That's despite Teheran announcing yesterday that it's tested nine missiles, including some with a range long enough to reach Israel.
Washington correspondent Kim Landers reports, US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, says the Iranian missiles tests illustrate the threat that the Islamic nation poses to the region.
"We've been saying, as we've talked about missile defence in Europe, that there is a real threat, and it seems to me the tests this morning underscores that," he said.
He says, however, he doesn't think the US and Iran are any closer to a military confrontation.
The White House is calling on Iran to refrain from conducting any more missile tests. Britain, France and Germany have also condemned the tests.
