The launch is likely to further exacerbate tensions with the West over its nuclear drive, which Iran’s arch-foe Washington and its allies claim is a cover for atomic weapons ambitions.
“The Safir (Ambassador) rocket was successfully launched. All its systems…are Iranian-made,” Reza Taghipour, head of Iran’s space agency, told state television, adding that a “test satellite was put into orbit.”
“We have paved the way for placing a satellite in space in future,” state television said, showing images of the pre-dawn rocket launch which was attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Western governments, already concerned over Iran’s nuclear activities, have warned that the technology used in the Islamic republic’s space programme could be diverted to military use, claims denied by Tehran.
“The Iranian development and testing of rockets is troubling and raises further questions about their intentions,” White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
“This action and dual use possibilities for their ballistic missile program are inconsistent with their UN Security Council obligations.”
Iran sparked international concern back in February by testing the rocket designed to carry the satellite.
The United States were swift to condemn the February launch as “just another troubling development,” saying it was a cause for concern about Iran’s continuing development… >>>
