Teheran defied the western powers once again by conducting a second day of high-profile missile tests on Wednesday, while Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the United States will defend Israel or other allies in the region from an eventual attack from Iran.

Iran resumed a military exercise in the Persian Gulf with another set of missile tests. The military exercise was broadcasted on state-run Iranian television according to the Associated Press.

On the second day of tests, Iran’s military test-launched more long-range rockets capable of reaching Israel as well as other countries in the region. Iran’s state-controlled media described the devices tested today as having "special capabilities," but gave no further details.

Speaking on a visit to Georgia, Ms Condoleezza Rice underlined the fact that the United States have improved the security in the Middle East and Iran shouldn’t be "confused" about US potential.

"We take very strongly our obligation to defend our allies and we intend to do that,” said the Secretary of State.

Israel joined the game by displaying one of its aircraft with sophisticated intelligence-gathering systems that it says can spy on Iran.

Among other projectiles, Iran also tested the new version of the Shahab-3, a missile with a range of 1,250 miles and which can be armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead. With the Shahab-3, Iran could reach and destroy targets in countries as far as Turkey, the Arabian Peninsula, Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Although the western powers urged Teheran on more than one occasion to stop its atomic program, the Middle Eastern country maintains that its atomic program is peaceful and has only industrial purposes.