Iran says it successfully launched a satellite

Iran launched a satellite into space Saturday with a rocket built by the countrys paramilitary Revolutionary Guard staterun media reported the latest for a program the West fears helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile program Iran described the launch as the second such launch to put a satellite into orbit with the rocket Independent scientists later confirmed the launch and that the satellite reached orbitFootage later released by Iranian media showed the rocket blast off from a mobile launcher An Associated Press analysis of the video and other imagery later released suggested the launch happened at the Guards launch pad on the outskirts of the city of Shahroud some 350 kilometres 215 miles east of the capital TehranThe launch comes amid heightened tensions gripping the wider Middle East over the ongoing IsraelHamas war in the Gaza Strip during which Tehran launched an unprecedented direct missileanddrone attack on Israel Meanwhile Iran continues to enrich uranium to nearly weaponsgrade levels raising concerns among nonproliferation experts about Tehrans programmeIran identified the satellitecarrying rocket as the Qaem100 which the Guard used in January for another successful launch Qaem means upright in Irans Farsi language The solidfuel threestage rocket put the Chamran1 satellite weighing 60 kilograms 132 pounds into a 550kilometer 340mile orbit state media reported The rocket bore a Quranic verse That which is left by Allah is better for you if you are believersA stateowned subsidiary of Irans Defense Ministry and experts at the Aerospace Research Institute built the satellite with others to test hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology validation state media said without elaborating Gen Hossein Salami the head of the Guard praised the launch in a statement and said scientists successfully overcame the atmosphere of extensive and oppressive international sanctionsResponding to questions from The Associated Press the US State Department said it has long made clear our concern that Irans space launch vehicle programmes provide a pathway to expand its longerrange missile systems We continue to use a variety of nonproliferation tools in coordination with our allies and partners to counter the further advancement of Irans ballistic missile programme and its ability to proliferate missiles and related technology it addedThe United States had previously said Irans satellite launches defy a UN Security Council resolution and called on Tehran to undertake no activity involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons UN sanctions related to Irans ballistic missile program expired last OctoberUnder Irans relatively moderate former President Hassan Rouhani the Islamic Republic slowed its space program for fear of raising tensions with the West Hardline President Ebrahim Raisi a protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who came to power in 2021 has pushed the programme forward Raisi died in a helicopter crash in MayIts unclear what Irans new president the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian wants for the program as he was silent on the issue while campaigning The US intelligence communitys worldwide threat assessment this year said Irans development of satellite launch vehicles would shorten the timeline for Iran to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile because it uses similar technologyIntercontinental ballistic missiles can be used to deliver nuclear weapons Iran is now producing uranium close to weaponsgrade levels after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers Tehran has enough enriched uranium for several nuclear weapons if it chooses to produce them the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency repeatedly has warnedIran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons and says its space program like its nuclear activities is for purely civilian purposes However US intelligence agencies and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program up until 2003 The launch also came ahead of the second anniversary of the death of 22yearold Mahsa Amini which sparked nationwide protests against Irans mandatory headscarf or hijab law and the countrys Shiite theocracyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever