US warns of possible military use of Iranian technology used to launch satellite

Reuters

The newspaper La Jornada
Sunday, September 15, 2024, p. 21

Tehran. Iran has launched a research satellite into orbit using a rocket built by the Revolutionary Guard, state media reported yesterday. The launch comes as the United States and European countries accuse Iran of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia that would likely be used in the war with Ukraine. Iran has denied this.

The satellite Chamran-1 was launched into space by the satellite carrier Qaem-100 and put into a 550-kilometer orbit; its first signals were received, the media reported, adding that the solid fuel carrier was designed and built by the Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guard. The main mission of the satellite, which weighs 60 kilograms, “is to test systems of hardware and software to demonstrate orbital maneuvering technology in altitude and phase,” state media said.

In January, Iranian media reported that the satellite Soraya had been launched into a 750-kilometer orbit, the country’s highest to date.

The US military says the long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also allow Tehran to launch long-range weapons, possibly including nuclear warheads.

The country’s government denies that its satellite activities are a cover for ballistic missile development and says it has never pursued the development of atomic weapons.