Iran said that it has test fired on Sunday a surface-to-surface missile during manoeuvres in the Sea of Oman, the Fars news agency reported.

A missile-launcher warship fired the medium-range, surface-to-surface Nasr 2 (victory) missile which hit its target at a 30-kilometre (18 miles) distance, according to the report.

The news agency did not elaborate on the specific range of the missile, only adding that it was tested for the first time.

Iran has test fired missle weaponry several times in the past few years.

The country has always warned of a dire response in the event that it comes under attack by the United States or Israel.

The United States and a number of its allies, including Israel, fear that Tehran is using its civilian nuclear programme as cover for developing atomic weapons.

Iran insists it wants to develop nuclear power for civilian purposes only in the knowledge that its huge oil and gas reserves will eventually run out.

It claims a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) for its liquid propellant-fuelled Shahab-3 ballistic missile, a derivation of North Korea's No-Dong missile.

Many experts cast doubt on the country's capabilities because medium- and longer-range missiles normally only work with composite solid fuel -- a very difficult product to manufacture.