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| Iran plans to launch telecoms satellite |
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| Written by Thomas Ponco | |
| Monday, 25 August 2008 | |
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TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran plans to launch a telecommunications satellite, the President said Saturday, using missile technology the West fears is being developed to fire nuclear warheads. Iran said last Sunday, had put a dummy satellite into orbit on a rocket domestically made for the first time, although U.S. officials said the attempt to launch was a failure. "Today, the Iranian nation has obtained the technology for the production of different types of satellites and with the help of God which will launch its first telecommunications satellite ... in space," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a rally. He did not give a timetable in remarks carried by state TV. Iran's top aerospace official said on Thursday the country aims to send a crew rocket into space over the next 10 years. "Our nation has a modern missile which can launch the second phase of missiles 250 km (150 miles) in space. The second stage is a small rocket carrying the satellite that is very complex technical equipment," said the President. The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites in space can also be used for launching weapons. The West accuses Iran of wanting to build a nuclear bomb, believes that Tehran is trying to develop more advanced missile technology so that it can launch nuclear test. Iran denies any intention and says its nuclear programme is peaceful. U.S. analyst Charles Vick, commenting on the announcement last Sunday, Iran said the Islamic Republic seems to be able to turn on the second stage of its rocket booster and acquired data that it will help to improve its system of launch. The head of Iran's aerospace industry organisation, Reza Taghipour, said on Thursday Iran to cooperate with the Islamic states in building a satellite. He also said Iran was working with Russia and other Asian states to launch another satellite. |