Images reveal Iran is preparing for a third attempted satellite launch despite heavy US criticism

Iran appears to be preparing another satellite launch after twice failing this year to put one in orbit, despite US accusations that the Islamic Republic’s programme helps it develop ballistic missiles.

Satellite images of the Imam Khomeini Space Centre in Iran’s Semnan province this month show increased activity at the site, as heightened tensions persist between Washington and Tehran over its collapsing nuclear deal with world powers.

While Iran routinely only announces such launches after the fact, that activity coupled with an official saying a satellite would soon be handed over to the country’s Defence Ministry suggests the attempt will be coming soon.

“The Imam Khomeini space launch center is usually quite empty,” said Fabian Hinz, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. “Now we’ve seen pictures where you can see activities at this assembly center and something happening at the (launch) pad.”

“If you put both together it sounds very likely there’s something that’s going to happen,” he said.