Iran Launches Satellites Part Of Programme Criticised By West As Middle East Tensions Soar

Iran has launched three satellites into space that were a part of the programme criticised by the West.

Iran has launched three satellites into space that were a part of the programme criticised by the West.

Source : X: FarsNews

Iran has launched three satellites into space with a rocket which reported multiple failures in the past. On the latest mission, the West said the program improves Tehran’s ballistic missiles. This comes as the Middle East witnessed major tensions over the Israel-Hamas war that also sparked fears of rregional conflict.

Even without a direct military intervention by Iran, the country has faced pressure after an IS bombing and attacks by proxy groups like Yemen's Houthis in connection with the war.

Iranian state television footage captured the nighttime launch for the Simorgh rocket and an Associated Press analysis showed that the launch took place at the Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran’s rural Semnan province.

“The roar of the Simorgh (rocket) resonated in our country’s sky and infinite space,” said Abbas Rasooli, a state TV reporter, in the footage.

Iran's State TV announced the successful launch of three satellites named Mahda, Kayhan-2, and Hatef-1. According to the broadcast, Mahda is designated as a research satellite, while Kayhan-2 and Hatef-1 are nanosatellites with a focus on global positioning and communication, respectively. Iran's Information and Communications Technology Minister, Isa Zarepour, confirmed that Mahda has already transmitted signals back to Earth.

This achievement comes after a string of setbacks for Iran's Simorgh program, after a series of five failed launches. The footage of Sunday's launch displayed the rocket bearing the slogan "We Can" in Farsi, likely a reference to the perseverance despite previous failures.

The Simorgh rocket is described by Iran as a two-stage, liquid-fueled vehicle designed to place satellites into low Earth orbit. However, the US intelligence community has expressed concerns about the dual-use nature of such technology. In its 2023 worldwide threat assessment, it noted that the development of satellite launch vehicles could expedite Iran's development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, as the technologies involved overlap. The Simorgh is specifically cited as a potential dual-use system.

The United States has previously criticised Iran's satellite launches, viewing them as a violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution. It has urged Tehran to refrain from any activities involving ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons. While U.N. sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile program expired in October, concerns persist among Western powers.

On January 20, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom jointly condemned Iran's satellite launch, expressing concerns about its potential contribution to the development of long-range ballistic missiles. They emphasised the need for Iran to justify its nuclear escalation within civilian parameters.