Iran is spending billions of dollars developing missiles that could reach the United States and Europe, Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz told cnbc on February 22.

“We estimate that in 2 to 3 years they will have the first intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the east coast of America,” said Steinitz, who has “extensive military experience” and is one of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “closest allies,” cnbc said.

“Their aim is clearly not only to be able [to] threaten Israel and the Middle East, but to put a direct nuclear ballistic threat to Europe and to the United States of America,” said Steinitz.

These kinds of projects show that Iran is aiming to be more than simply a regional power—it wants to push its weight around in Europe and the U.S.

Developing a robust nuclear weapon that can be placed on an intercontinental ballistic missile (icbm) is challenging and Steinitz puts Iran’s development of such a missile several years in the future. But Iran already has the capability to hurt Europe and America.

Some of the world’s deadliest terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, are funded and controlled by Iran. The Strait of Hormuz gives Iran a way to threaten Europe and America’s oil supply.

Iran may be several years away from having icbms, but they are already very pushy against America and Europe. Watch for Iran to continue to find ways to push at these powers.