LONDON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Tuesday condemned Iran's recent missile test, saying Iran needed to show it was serious about engaging with the international community over its nuclear program.

    Following a series of short-range missile tests, Iran on Monday test-fired the long-range Shahab-3 missile and the surface-to-surface Sajil missile. Both reportedly are capable of hitting objectives in Israel, most Arab countries and southern Europe.

    Miliband said the missile test was part of an annual provocation in which Iran engaged.

    "I think it's very important that we are not distracted from the central issue of this week and more particularly the meeting on Thursday between Iran and representatives of the international community," Miliband said

    Six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- are set to meet with Iran on Thursday in Geneva to discuss Tehran's nuclear program.

    The United States and other Western powers are skeptical about Iran's weaponry program, especially those of missiles which could possibly use nuclear materials. But Tehran contends that its military and nuclear program were of defensive and peaceful component.

    Miliband said Iran needed to show it was serious about obeying international rules, "no more, no less."

    The most important question this week was whether or not Iran was willing to engage with the international community, he said.

    "I don't expect them to reveal anything before Thursday, but on Thursday they need to meet with my representative and that of five other countries and show that they are serious about ensuring that their civilian nuclear power program does not leak in to a military program," he added.

    Miliband said that would not be achieved in one meeting, but Thursday's meeting needed to set a new course and Iran needed to come with a new attitude and a new policy.

    "Publicly, the Iranians say that all they want is a civilian nuclear power program, a peaceful program. We know, not least because of the revelations on Friday, that there are secretive activities taking place and unanswered questions about their pre-2003 military studies and other investigations," the foreign secretary said.

    "That's why I say, if Iran really does want a peaceful nuclear power program, it can have it, as long as it doesn't contribute to nuclear weapons proliferation," he added.

    On the possibility of introducing further sanctions against Iran, Miliband said there were three rounds of UN sanctions already. The Iranian economy had been suffering significantly, not least because of the mismanagement by the Ahmadinejad regime.

    "It is massively in the interests of the people of Iran that its government makes peace with the international community. There is a serious and positive offer on the table for Iran. They need to take it and they need to take it not just for our interests, but for theirs as well," he added.