EU calls Iran missile launch 'a concern'

European Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana said on Monday he was concerned about Iran's test firing of missiles amid growing tensions over the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambitions.

"Everything that is done in that context is a concern," he said on the sidelines of a meeting of EU defense ministers in Sweden, the current holder of the revolving presidency of the bloc.

Solana said last week's disclosure by Tehran that it is building a second uranium enrichment plant was something that had to be resolved "immediately" with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

When asked what sanctions Iran should face if it failed to comply with Western demands over its nuclear program, Solana said "now is not the time to talk about that."

Solana's comments came shortly after Iran test-fired a missile that defense analysts have said could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf, in a move that could further irk world powers ahead of rare talks with Tehran this week.

The EU official added that the aim of Thursday's talks in Geneva was "engagement, engagement."

Meanwhile, a Russian Foreign Ministry source told Interfax news agency on Monday that Russia was urging restraint from the international community in reaction to the Iranian missile launches.

"We should not give way to emotions now," the source said. "We should try to calm down and the main thing is to launch a productive negotiations process [with Iran]."

A White House official said the missile test was noteworthy, according to CNN.

"Of course, this is just a test, and obviously there is much work to be done before it can be built and deployed. But I see it as a significant step forward in terms of Iran's capacity to deliver weapons," CNN quoted Gary Samore, special assistant to the president on nonproliferation, as saying.

Iran's nuclear dispute with the West escalated last week after the disclosure by Tehran that it is building a second uranium enrichment plant.

News of the nuclear fuel facility south of Tehran added a sense of urgency to the meeting in Geneva between Iranian officials and representatives of six major powers, including the United States, China and Russia.

Alex Vatanka, a senior Middle East analyst at IHS Jane's, said Tehran was conducting the tests now to show some muscle, show some strength, and say the game is not over for Iran yet.

"They felt going into these meetings ... that they needed to have something else to bolster their position, and I think that Iran's Revolutionary Guard showing a bit of military muscle here is part of that," he said, referring to the upcoming meeting in Geneva.