Rice Promises To Defend Allies Against Iran

TBILISI, Georgia — Secretary of State Rice warned Iran today that America will not back down in the face of Iranian threats against Israel.

Iranian officials have strongly suggested the country's missile test on Wednesday was itself a warning to Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Israel has left that option open.

"We will defend our interests and defend our allies," Ms. Rice said at the close of a three-day Eastern European trip.

"We take very very strongly our obligations to defend our allies and no one should be confused of that," she said.