TEHRAN, Iran (AP) 鈥� Iran launched a satellite into space Saturday with a rocket built by the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, state-run 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 orbit.
Footage 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 Guard鈥檚 launch pad on the outskirts of the city of Shahroud, some 350 kilometers (215 miles) east of the capital, Tehran.
The launch comes amid heightened tensions gripping the wider Middle East over , during which . Meanwhile, Iran continues to enrich uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels, raising concerns among nonproliferation experts about Tehran's program.
Iran identified the satellite-carrying rocket as the Qaem-100, which . Qaem means 鈥渦pright鈥� in Iran's Farsi language.
The solid-fuel, three-stage rocket put the Chamran-1 satellite, weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds), into a 550-kilometer (340-mile) orbit, state media reported. The rocket bore a Quranic verse: "That which is left by Allah is better for you, if you are believers.鈥�
A state-owned subsidiary of Iran's Defense Ministry and experts at the Aerospace Research Institute built the satellite with others to 鈥渢est hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology validation,鈥� state media said, without elaborating.
Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard, praised the launch in a statement and said scientists successfully overcame 鈥渢he atmosphere of extensive and oppressive international sanctions."
Responding to questions from The Associated Press, the U.S. State Department said it has 鈥渓ong made clear our concern that Iran鈥檚 space launch vehicle programs provide a pathway to expand its longer-range missile systems.鈥�
鈥淲e continue to use鈥痑 variety of nonproliferation tools, in coordination with our allies and partners, to counter the further advancement of Iran鈥檚 ballistic missile program鈥痑nd鈥痠ts ability to proliferate鈥痬issiles and related technology,鈥� it added.
The United States had previously said Iran鈥檚 satellite launches defy a U.N. Security Council resolution and called on Tehran to undertake no activity involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. U.N. sanctions related to Iran鈥檚 ballistic missile program expired last October.
Under Iran鈥檚 relatively moderate former President Hassan Rouhani, the Islamic Republic slowed its space program for fear of raising tensions with the West. Hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who came to power in 2021, has pushed the program forward. .
It's unclear what Iran's new president, , wants for the program as he was silent on the issue while campaigning.
The U.S. intelligence community鈥檚 worldwide threat assessment this year said Iran's development of satellite launch vehicles 鈥渨ould shorten the timeline鈥� for Iran to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile because it uses similar technology.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles can be used to deliver nuclear weapons. Iran is now producing uranium close to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers. Tehran has enough enriched uranium for 鈥渟everal鈥� nuclear weapons, if it chooses to produce them, .
Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons and says its space program, like its nuclear activities, is for purely civilian purposes. However, U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program up until 2003.
The launch also came ahead of , which sparked nationwide protests against Iran's mandatory headscarf, or hijab, law and the country's Shiite theocracy.
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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Nasser Karimi And Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
