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Russia suspicious over Iran test
MOSCOW (BBC News) Feb. 5, 2008 – Russia thinks the launch of an Iranian rocket into space raises suspicion over the true aim of its nuclear programme, a foreign ministry official has said.
“Long-range missiles are one of the components of a [nuclear] weapons system,” Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov told Interfax.
TEHRAN/MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti) – Iran successfully launched a research rocket as a preliminary step toward sending its first homebuild research satellite into orbit, national media said. VIDEO
Iran’s state television earlier reported that Iranian scientists had built the Omid (Hope) research satellite under a project that took 10 years to complete. The satellite was unveiled on Monday during an official ceremony and may be launched by March 2009.
Iranian media gave no details about the rocket, called Kavoshgar-1, but some experts believe it could be a variant of the Shahab-3 missile, which has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,200 miles).
Iran’s official news agency IRNA said the Omid advanced research satellite had been designed to operate in a low earth orbit and provide a variety of scientific data.
Iran’s space program, along with other technological advancements in the country that have potential military applications, has been received warily by Western powers which suspect Tehran of secretly developing nuclear weapons.
Sinah-1, the first Iranian satellite, was built by Russia and launched on October 28, 2005 on a Kosmos-3 booster rocket from North Russia’s Plesetsk Space Center, making Iran the 43rd country to possess its own satellite. Iran still hopes to become a satellite-launching nation.
TEHRAN, February 5 (RIA Novosti) – Iran is currently involved in a long-running dispute with the West over its controversial uranium enrichment program, with two sets of UN sanctions against Tehran in effect.
The U.S. and its allies fear that both programs may serve as a cover for the development of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles.
The White House said Iran’s rocket launch was “unfortunate” and would only further isolate Tehran from the international community.
“It’s unfortunate Iran continues to test ballistic missiles. This regime continues to take steps that only further isolate it and the Iranian people from the international community,” White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
