“The research objectives for this launch were reached,” said Ahmad Hosseini, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Defense, without giving more details.
The United States is “preoccupied” by this step. Iran said, Thursday, December 30, having launched a rocket carrying three spatial research devices. “The research objectives planned for this launch have been achieved,” said Ahmad Hosseini, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Defense, without giving more details. “It was a preliminary launch and we will have operational launches in the near future,” he promised.
State television briefly showed the images of a rocket shot from a desert place, welcoming “another achievement of Iranian scientists”. The local media did not specify where the launch had taken place.
American media, citing experts and satellite images, had explained earlier in December that the Islamic Republic was preparing to launch a rocket from the Semnan Space Center, some 300 km east of Tehran. .
Washington worries
The United States has expressed their concerns after this announcement, according to them, to benefit from the Téhran’s ballistic program. Westerners suspect Iran to seek to develop, using the technology of its satellite launchers, long-range ballistic launchers capable of carrying conventional or nuclear charges.
The Iranian development of space launchers “poses a risk of proliferation”, reacted a spokesman for the State Department, which, however, reaffirmed that Washington “wishes a mutual return to the total respect of the” 2015 Agreement ” to prevent Iran from obtaining the nuclear weapon.
Thursday announcement occurs in full talks to save the Vienna Agreement. They were restarted at the end of November after five months of interruption between Tehran and the countries still parties to the Covenant (France, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, China).
The negotiations are intended to bring back the United States, which had left it in 2018 and restored sanctions against Iran. The United States participates in negotiations indirectly.
Controversial Iranian Space Program
The Agreement, validated by UN Security Council Resolution 2231, enjoins Tehran of “conducting any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear charges, including firewriting. Balistic missiles “.
Tehran had announced in February having tested a new satellite launcher equipped with his “most powerful” solid fuel engine. According to the Pentagon and satellite images of the Semnan Space Center, Iran had tried in mid-June to launch a satellite in space without success. Tehran, on his side, had denied the failure of the launch.
In February 2020, Iran had failed to organize a scientific observation satellite, baptized Zafar (“victory”, Persian). His launch had been sentenced by Paris and Washington, who had accused the country to want to strengthen its skills in the field of ballistic missiles through the launch of satellites.
Two months later, in April 2020, the guardians of the Revolution, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, had launched their first military satellite. The United States had then felt that this launch proved that the Iranian space program was for more than commercial military purposes.