Tehran | Iran said Thursday it had launched three space research devices into space, state television reported, a project that could spark condemnation in the West as nuclear talks are underway.
“The Simorgh satellite launcher sent three research devices into space,” said Ahmad Hosseini, spokesperson for the Iranian Defense Ministry’s space unit, quoted by state television.
“The research objectives planned for this launch have been achieved,” Hosseini said without giving further details.
Tehran announced in February that it had tested a new satellite launcher equipped with its “most powerful” solid fuel engine.
Thursday’s announcement comes as negotiations to save the Iran nuclear deal concluded in 2015 were relaunched at the end of November after a five-month hiatus between Tehran and countries still party to the pact (France, United Kingdom, Germany , Russia, China).
The agreement, validated by UN Security Council resolution 2231, enjoins Tehran “not to carry out any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear charges, including fire using ballistic missile technology” .
The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, launched their first military satellite in April 2020.
The United States then considered that this launch proved that the Iranian space program was intended for military rather than commercial purposes.
Westerners suspect Iran of seeking to develop, using the technology of its satellite launchers, long-range ballistic launchers capable of carrying conventional or nuclear charges.
Affirming that it has no intention of acquiring atomic weapons, Tehran assures that its ballistics and space programs do not go against the UN resolution.