(MSN News) Iran tested ballistic missiles for the second time in as many days, claiming that those launched Wednesday were able to hit Israel.
Media organizations in the country reported that the missiles had the words "Israel should be wiped from the pages of history" printed on them in Hebrew, although such an inscription could not be made out in photographs.
"The reason we designed our missiles with a range of 2,000 km is to be able to hit our enemy the Zionist regime from a safe distance," said Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Ballistic missile activity is not prohibited under the nuclear agreement reached by Iran and major powers last July. The deal restricts Iran's nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief, but the Obama administration said Tuesday that the tests could violate separate U.N. Security Council resolutions. Iran maintains that it has the right to use ballistic missiles as a part of its national defense.
The U.S. imposed sanctions in January in response to an Iranian ballistic missile test conducted in October, and White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday there may be more punishment for this week's activity.
"It certainly is possible that Iran could face some consequences for carrying out this action. And we have demonstrated no reluctance to impose sanctions against Iran for conducting ballistic missile tests that are outside of their international obligations," Earnest said. "But at this point, it's too early to determine whether or not that's exactly what's taken place here. So we'll take a look at the situation and if we determine that a response is warranted, then we'll pursue it."
The Iranian threats against Israel came as Vice President Joe Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Biden said the U.S. was committed to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge in the region, part of a long-standing agreement between the two countries that the U.S. ensures Israel can defend itself against threats.
"There is no need to doubt that the United States has Israel's back," Biden said. "This is a commitment that goes deeper than security."
The vice president also said that, were Iran to be found cheating on the terms of the nuclear deal, "we will act."
Biden's visit with Netanyahu comes amidst the latest public spat between the Obama administration and the Israeli prime minister, who strongly opposes the nuclear deal. Netanyahu canceled a trip to Washington this month, apparently declining to meet with Obama over fears that the two would not be able to solidify the next memorandum of understanding that would provide military assistance to Israel over a 10-year period. The Israeli prime minister also fears that Obama, who has acknowledged he'll not be able to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before he leaves office, may be working to set the stage so such a deal could be achieved by his successor.