Pentagon chief: U.S. no closer to Iran confrontation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is no closer to confrontation with Iran after Tehran test-fired missiles it says could reach Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Wednesday.

"No, I don't think so," Gates said, asked if the United States was any closer to confrontation.

"There is a lot of signaling going on. But I think everybody recognizes what the consequences of any kind of a conflict would be," the Pentagon chief told reporters.

Gates was also asked about the possibility that Iran could soon obtain Russian air defense missiles. An improved air defense system would make a strike on Iran more difficult.

"My impression is that based on what I know it's highly unlikely that those air defense missiles would be in Iranian hands anytime soon," Gates said.

Iran's missile tests, which roiled oil markets, come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

They also come as the United States tries to forge final agreement on plans to set up a missile shield to protect the United States and Europe from threats from the Middle East, including Iranian missiles.

Russia opposes the plans to field a missile shield in Europe and says Iran is not close to a long-range capability. Gates said Wednesday's tests should counter Russia's doubts.

"This certainly addresses the doubts raised by the Russians that the Iranians won't have a longer range ballistic missile for 10 to 20 years," he said. "The fact is they've just tested a missile that has a pretty extended range."

(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Frances Kerry)