In the midst of nuclear talks, Iran announces rocket launch

Iran claimed Thursday, December 30, that it had launched a rocket carrying three space research devices into space, a project likely to generate condemnation in the West as nuclear talks are underway. Read also Iran, Ukraine, Taiwan: 2022, year of all dangers in the world “ The Simorgh satellite launcher sent three research devices into space ,” Ahmad announced. Hosseini, spokesperson for the Iranian Defense Ministry’s space unit, quoted by state television. Television briefly showed footage of a rocket firing from a desert location, praising “ another accomplishment of Iranian scientists ”. “ The research objectives planned for this launch have been achieved “, said Ahmad Hosseini without giving more details. “ This was a preliminary launch and we will have operational launches in the near future ” , he promised. Local media did not say where Thursday’s launch took place. US media, citing experts and satellite images, reported earlier in December that the Islamic Republic was preparing to launch a rocket from the Semnan Space Center, some 300 km east of Tehran. Washington, for its part, expressed its concerns after this announcement. Westerners suspect Iran of seeking to develop, using the technology of its satellite launchers, long-range ballistic launchers capable of carrying conventional or nuclear charges. “ The United States remains concerned about the Iranian development of space launchers, which poses a risk of proliferation “, Said a spokeswoman for the State Department, who however reaffirmed that Washington” wants a mutual return to full respect for the agreement ”of 2015 aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Radical positions Thursday’s announcement comes as negotiations to save the Iran nuclear deal concluded in 2015 were relaunched at the end of November after a five-month hiatus between Tehran and countries still party to the pact (France, United Kingdom, Germany , Russia, China). Thursday in Vienna, Iranian negotiator Ali Baghéri estimated that progress “ relatively satisfactory ” had been made while the West insists on “ the urgency ” to conclude the discussions in the face of Tehran’s nuclear advances . “ There has been some written exchange on the lifting of sanctions between the two sides, and relatively satisfactory progress has been made in the first days of the eighth round of talks ”, declared Ali Baghéri, according to a video published by the Tasnim news agency. The talks aim to bring the United States, which left the agreement in 2018 and reinstated sanctions against Iran, back to the deal. The United States is participating indirectly. The agreement, validated by resolution 2231 of the UN Security Council, enjoins Tehran to “ not carry out any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to carry charges nuclear weapons, including fire using ballistic missile technology ”. Tehran announced in February that it had tested a new satellite launcher equipped with its “ more powerful ” solid fuel. According to the Pentagon and satellite images from the Semnan Space Center, Iran had attempted in mid-June to launch a satellite into space, without success. Tehran for its part had denied the failure of the launch. In February 2020, Iran had failed to put into orbit a scientific observation satellite, dubbed Zafar (“ Victory ”in Persian). Its launch was condemned by Paris and Washington, who accused Tehran of wanting to strengthen its skills in the field of ballistic missiles through the launch of satellites. Read also Nuclear: the lifting of sanctions is Iran’s “priority” Two months later, in April 2020, the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, launched their first military satellite. The United States then considered that this launch proved that the Iranian space program was intended for military rather than commercial purposes. Westerners suspect Iran of seeking to develop, using the technology of its satellite launchers, long-range ballistic launchers capable of carrying conventional or nuclear charges. Affirming that it has no intention of acquiring atomic weapons, Tehran assures that its ballistics and space programs do not run counter to resolution 2231. The eighth round of talks began on December 27. They must resume on January 3, after a three-day break due to the end-of-year holidays.

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