Tehran - After three failed attempts, Iran has finally launched
a military satellite into space on the fourth attempt.
According to the state-run news agency Irna, the Revolutionary Guards
(IRGC) launched the "Nur-1" (Light-1) satellite on Wednesday in an
undisclosed desert area and successfully placed it in an orbit at a
height of 425 kilometres in two stages.
The successful satellite launch was a major achievement for the
Islamic Republic, the IRGC said in a statement.
In February the launch of the 130-kilogram "Zafar" (Victory)
satellite from the Semnan space centre in central Iran was
successful. However, the satellite could not reach the desired orbit
due to its low speed. Before that, two more attempts had failed.
According to Tehran, the Iranian satellites are supposed to only
provide data on weather, natural disasters and agriculture and not
pursue any military objectives, meaning their use is in accordance
with international regulations.
According to the IRGC, the Nur-1 satellite is a military satellite.
The United States and Israel are generally critical of the Iranian
satellite programme because they fear that Iran may use space
technology to build long-range military missiles.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that Iran "needs to be
held accountable" for the launch.
"The IRGC - a designated terrorist organization - launched a missile
today," Pompeo told reporters.
"Every nation has an obligation to go to the United Nations and
evaluate whether this missile launch was consistent" with a Security
Council resolution, he said, adding: "I don't think it remotely is."
"The Iranians have consistently said that these missile programmes
were disconnected from their military, that these were purely
commercial enterprises," Pompeo said. "I think today's launch proves
what we've been saying all along here in the United States."
Israel meanwhile condemned Iran's "attempt at launching a satellite,"
calling it a facade for Tehran's attempts to develop intercontinental
ballistic missiles and ones capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
The launch violates a UN Security Council resolution as well as
Iran's commitments to the international community, Israel's Foreign
Ministry said, adding that Tehran should face tougher sanctions.