WASHINGTON, May 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama "has long been concerned" about any development in Iran's missile program, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Wednesday.

    "Obviously, the president has been long concerned about it," Gibbs said, referring to the confirmed ballistic missile test by Iran.

    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that the country successfully launched an advanced surface-to-surface missile with a range of about 2,000 kilometers, adding that the missile exactly landed in the pre-planned target.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other defense officials have confirmed the missile test was successful.

    "You all know the concerns that the president has about Iran's missile development programs ... and the strong belief that the pursuit of those programs does not strengthen the security of Iran but instead make them less safe," said Gibbs.

A video frame grab shows an Iranian surface-to-surface Sejil 2 missile flying past a weather balloon as it was launched from a site in Semnan May 20, 2009. Iran launched a missile with a range of close to 2,000 km (1,200 miles) on Wednesday.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Iran successfully launches missile with 2,000 km range: report

    TEHRAN, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that the country successfully launched an advanced surface-to-surface missile with a range of about 2,000 km., the official IRNA news agency reported.

    Ahmadinejad made the announcement during his visit to the northern Iranian province of Semnan, where the Sejil 2 missile was launched, IRNA reported. Full story