Tehran: Iran declared a successful satellite launch on Saturday, placing the Soraya satellite into its highest orbit yet, a move that has raised concerns in the West about Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities. The announcement follows recent tit-for-tat airstrikes between Iran and Pakistan and increased tensions in the broader Middle East due to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Using a three-stage rocket, the satellite reached an orbit approximately 750 kilometers (460 miles) above Earth, as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency. The nature of the satellite’s activities immediately following the launch remains undisclosed.
The launch is part of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ space program, in collaboration with the civilian space program. While there is no independent confirmation of the satellite’s successful placement in orbit, the United States has previously criticized Iran’s satellite launches, asserting that they violate a UN Security Council resolution.
The US contends that such activities contribute to the advancement of Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities. UN sanctions related to Iran’s ballistic missile program expired in October of the previous year. The US intelligence community’s 2023 worldwide threat assessment has expressed concern that the development of satellite launch vehicles shortens the timeline for Iran to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile, sharing similar technology.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles can potentially carry nuclear weapons, and Iran’s nuclear program has raised international concerns. Tehran, despite enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels, denies seeking nuclear weapons, asserting that both its nuclear and space programs are solely for civilian purposes.
The involvement of the Revolutionary Guards in the satellite launches, coupled with the ability to launch rockets from mobile platforms, has heightened Western concerns. While Iran insists on the peaceful nature of its space program, past incidents, including failed launches and accidents at the Imam Khomeini Spaceport, have fueled skepticism.
Iran’s recent space endeavors include sending a capsule into orbit in December, capable of carrying animals, as part of preparations for potential human missions in the future.
