Many details concerning Iran’s missile tests this week remain unclear, and there may be less to them than Tehran’s propaganda indicates.

But the recent reports rattled the world’s oil and financial markets. The tests are a reminder of the growing Iranian threat to crucial American allies in the Middle East and Europe.

On Thursday the Bush administration properly emphasized that the United States would protect its allies. That should help reassure NATO members such as Greece, Arab countries like Egypt, and others.

In return, however, Washington should expect the international community to get more serious about ensuring that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.

Such weapons, combined with mid- and long-range missiles, would enable the religious fanatics of Tehran to blackmail a large section of the globe.

Iranian threats against Israel receive considerable attention, and with good reason. Tel Aviv is well within Iranian missile range already. The Jewish state has said it will not sit idly by as an irresponsible neighbor like Iran acquires the ability to flatten Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.

But as Israeli officials emphasize, the prospect of Tehran building nuclear missiles is an international problem. Places like Athens, Istanbul and Cairo may be coming within Iran’s effective striking distance.

Iran could also threaten India which, like Israel, already has nuclear weapons.
The United States and the international community must take a two-track approach to the Iranian challenge.

Renewed and intensified diplomatic efforts are the obvious first choice. And appropriate preparations for possible military confrontation are necessary, too.