"These were preplanned military exercises," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, adding that they were consistent with the "provocative nature with which Iran has acted on the world stage."
Iran said earlier Monday it had test-fired surface-to-surface Sejil and Shahab-3 missiles in a move that ratcheted up tensions ahead of high-profile talks between Iran and six world powers over Tehran's suspect atomic program.
The UN nuclear watchdog revealed on Friday that Tehran was building a second uranium enrichment plant.
Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear-armed power, and the United States have never ruled out a military option to thwart Iran's nuclear drive.
