Commenting during an interview with Sky News about Iran's recent missile test, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that Iran needs to show it it serious about engaging with the international community over its nuclear programme.

When asked how concerned he was about the recent missile test David Miliband said:

'This missile test is part of an annual provocation that Iran engages with. 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. Iran needs to show it's serious about obeying the international rules, no more, no less. That is the test that counts this week.

Thursday represents the first meeting in sixteen months since the international community put a clear offer to Iran about how it could be treated as a normal country and how it could embrace normal behaviour.'

He was also asked about the likelihood that Iran will engage with the international community on their nuclear programme. He said:

'This is an annual test. It's an annual provocation. As such it's reprehensible, but the most important question this week is whether or not Iran is willing to engage with us.

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 programme does not leak in to a military programme.

That won't be achieved in one meeting, but this meeting on Thursday needs to set a new course and Iran needs to come with a new attitude and a new policy.'

He added:

'Publicly the Iranians say that all they want is a civilian nuclear power programme, a peaceful programme. 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.

That's why I say if Iran really does want a peaceful nuclear power programme it can have it, as long as it doesn't contribute to nuclear weapons proliferation. It's a very simple point, we, they need to show that they're serious and Thursday is the chance to show it.'

When asked about the possibility of introducing further sanctions against Iran, David Miliband said:

'Well there are three rounds of UN sanctions already. The European Union has tougher sanctions than those required by the EU. The Iranian economy has 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.'