Rice: U.S. will protect interests, allies

TBLISI, Georgia, July 10 (UPI) -- The United States will defend its interests and protect its allies against an attack by Iran, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said while in Europe.

Her pledge came as Iran's military test-fired medium- and long-range missiles Iranian officials said could reach Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East, The New York Times reported Thursday.

"We take very strongly our obligation to help our allies defend themselves and no one should be confused about that," Rice said during a news conference in Tblisi, Georgia.

Rice said the United States is working with allies to "make certain that they are capable of defending themselves" against an Iranian threat.

Comment from Iran, the United States and Israel has become more pointed in recent weeks over Iran's nuclear program.

Israel recently conducted military exercises and has hasn't ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. The United States has hinted that it could use military force against Iran, but diplomatic and military officials said diplomacy is preferred. Iran pledged to retaliate against any attack.

Rice is in Europe to push the deployment of a missile shield U.S. officials said would help defend against a possible missile attack from Iran. Rice signed an agreement to allow the construction of a radar facility in the Czech Republic. A tentative agreement to locate missiles in Poland has been reached.