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The Safir (ambassador) satellite-carrier rocket, carrying Iran's Omid 2 (hope) satellite, is launched at an unknown location in Iran in this handout picture sent to Reuters by Iranian Fars News February 3, 2009. Iran said it launched its first domestically made satellite into orbit on Tuesday, boasting major progress in its space technology when tension with the West over its nuclear ambitions persists. Omid, launched as Iran marks the 30th anniversary this month of the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the U.S.-backed shah, is designed for research and telecommunications, state television said.REUTERS/Fars News
TEHRAN-Iran said it had launched a domestically made satellite into orbit for the first time on Tuesday, prompting further concern among Western powers and in Israel over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.Iran said the launch of the Omid (Hope) research and telecom satellite was a major step in its space technology timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the U.S.-backed shah.The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also be used for launching warheads, although Iran says it has no plans to do so."Dear Iranian nation, your children have placed the first indigenous satellite into orbit," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a televised message, adding the launch was successful.
Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Omid was orbiting earth. The ISNA news agency quoted him as saying: "We have established communications with it and the necessary information has been received."Sending the Omid into space is a message to the world that Iran is "very powerful and you have to deal with us in the right way," an Iranian political analyst said. U.S. and British officials said the Iranian satellite program may use technology that could be used for ballistic missiles, and noted the United Nations has sought to discourage Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Iran has long said its nuclear program is purely for civilian energy purposes.U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters of the launch: "That's of grave concern to us."British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said it "underlines and illustrates our serious concerns about Iran's intentions," adding it sent the "wrong signal to the international community."
WORLD POWERS TO MEET
Senior officials from six world powers-the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China-will meet on Wednesday to discuss the nuclear row with Iran. It is their first meeting since U.S. President Barack Obama took office.Obama has signaled that he will pursue direct talks with Tehran but has also warned Iran to expect more pressure if it does not meet the U.N. Security Council demand to halt atomic work the West fears has military aims.Iranian state television showed footage of a rocket blasting off from a launchpad and lighting up the night sky as it streaked into space."With God's help and the desire for justice and peace, the official presence of the Islamic Republic was registered in space," Ahmadinejad said.A U.S. security official said in Washington said it was unclear what Iran intended to use the satellite for and the United States was still trying to learn more about it.
Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Omid was orbiting earth. The ISNA news agency quoted him as saying: "We have established communications with it and the necessary information has been received."Sending the Omid into space is a message to the world that Iran is "very powerful and you have to deal with us in the right way," an Iranian political analyst said. U.S. and British officials said the Iranian satellite program may use technology that could be used for ballistic missiles, and noted the United Nations has sought to discourage Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Iran has long said its nuclear program is purely for civilian energy purposes.U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters of the launch: "That's of grave concern to us."British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said it "underlines and illustrates our serious concerns about Iran's intentions," adding it sent the "wrong signal to the international community."
WORLD POWERS TO MEET
Senior officials from six world powers-the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China-will meet on Wednesday to discuss the nuclear row with Iran. It is their first meeting since U.S. President Barack Obama took office.Obama has signaled that he will pursue direct talks with Tehran but has also warned Iran to expect more pressure if it does not meet the U.N. Security Council demand to halt atomic work the West fears has military aims.Iranian state television showed footage of a rocket blasting off from a launchpad and lighting up the night sky as it streaked into space."With God's help and the desire for justice and peace, the official presence of the Islamic Republic was registered in space," Ahmadinejad said.A U.S. security official said in Washington said it was unclear what Iran intended to use the satellite for and the United States was still trying to learn more about it.
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