Iran launches new space rocket amid Vienna nuclear talks
- The Phoenix satellite launcher was carrying ‘three research cargos’, a defence ministry spokesman said
- Western governments are concerned that satellite launch systems share technologies used in ballistic missiles capable of delivering atomic warheads
Iran launched a rocket with a satellite carrier bearing three devices into space, authorities said, without saying whether any of the objects had entered Earth’s orbit.
It was not clear when the launch happened or what devices the carrier brought with it.
Iran aired footage of the blast-off against the backdrop of negotiations in Vienna to restore Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers. An eighth round had been under way this week and is to resume after New Year’s holidays.
Previous launches have drawn rebukes from the United States. The US military did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday’s announcement from Iran.
The US State Department, however, said it remained concerned by Iran’s space launches, which it asserted “pose a significant proliferation concern” in regards to Tehran’s ballistic missile programme.
Ahmad Hosseini, a Defence Ministry spokesman, identified the rocket as a Simorgh, or “Phoenix”, rocket that sent up the three devices 470 kilometres.
“The performance of the space centre and the performance of the satellite carrier was done properly,” Hosseini was quoted as saying.
But hours later, Hosseini and other officials remained silent on the status of the objects, suggesting the rocket had fallen short of placing its payload into the correct orbit. Hosseini offered a speed for the satellite carrier that state-associated journalists reporting on the event indicated wouldn’t be enough to reach orbit.
