So far, the United States has provided $205 million to support the Iron Dome, according to Haaretz.

The system uses small radar-guided missiles to blow up in midair Katyusha-style rockets fired at distances of 5 km (3 miles) to 70 km (45 miles), away as well as mortar bombs.

Republicans have slammed President Barack Obama for what they characterized as inadequate funding of U.S.-Israeli missile defense cooperation in his 2013 budget request released in February.

Panetta said the Pentagon would seek additional funding for the Iron Dome program over the next three years “based on an annual assessment of Israeli security requirements,” according to Reuters.

U.S.-Israeli relations have been strained over how to counter Iran’s nuclear program, with Washington arguing that sanctions need to be given a chance to work while Israeli leaders have suggested time is running out and that unilateral military action may soon be necessary.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak met Thursday with US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta for their third session of talks in the Pentagon in as many months and thanked him for Washington’s new funding for more batteries of Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system.

Meanwhile, he United States has a military option “ready” if diplomacy fails to halt Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, the US ambassador to Israel Daniel Shaprio has said, AFP reported, quoting an Israeli newspaper reported on Thursday.

“It would be preferable to resolve this diplomatically through the use of pressure than to use military force,” right-wing nationalist daily Makor Rishon quoted Daniel Shapiro as telling an Israeli bar association meeting this week, according to Haaretz.

“But that doesn’t mean that option is not fully available,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “It is not just available, but it is ready.”

The United States, Israel and much of the international community believes Iran’s nuclear programme masks a weapons drive, allegations Tehran denies, saying the programme is for peaceful civilian energy and medical use.