ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Iran has invited Turkey to cooperate in work on the Islamic Republic’s space program, which aims to put a man in space by 2017, the Turkish newspaper Haberturk said on Saturday.
Western countries which suspect Iran is trying to build nuclear bombs are concerned the long-range ballistic technology used to propel Iranian satellites into orbit could be used to launch atomic warheads. Tehran denies such suggestions.
Pro-business Haberturk said Turkey had not responded to the proposal. Turkish officials were unavailable for comment, and there was no immediate comment from Tehran.
Iran regards its space program, which test-launched a satellite rocket earlier this year, as a matter of national pride.
The reported proposal to cooperate on the sensitive program would underscore growing trust between Turkey and Iran as the states seek to strengthen diplomatic and business ties.
