Iran says the rocket sends three “investigative charges” into space by Reuters

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran has used a satellite rocket to send three research devices into space, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, trying to save the 2015 nuclear deal by conducting indirect talks between the US and Iran in Austria.

He did not clarify whether the devices reached orbit.

Iran, which has one of the largest missile programs in the Middle East, has missed several satellite launches in recent years due to technical problems.

Spokesman Ahmad Hosseini said the rocket of the Simorgh satellite carrier, which translates as “Phoenix”, was launched by three research devices at an altitude of 470 kilometers (290 miles). He did not provide further details.

“The research objectives that are the target of this launch were achieved,” Hosseini said in comments broadcast on state television. “This was done as a pre-launch … God willing, we’ll have an operational launch soon.”

Iranian state television showed images of the launch of the launch vehicle.

The space launch, which was announced on Thursday, was aimed at restoring the nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington while Iran and Washington were conducting indirect talks with Vienna, and the US President Donald Trump in 2018 trying to revive the nuclear deal.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Iran’s civilian agency and two investigative bodies in 2019 on suspicion of being used to carry out a ballistic missile program in Tehran.

Tehran denies that this activity is a cover for the development of ballistic missiles.

Iran launched its first Omid (Hope) and Rasad (Observation) satellite in 2009 and was launched into orbit in June 2011. Tehran said in 2012 that it had successfully launched its third home-made satellite, Navid (Promise), into orbit. .

In April 2020, Iran said it had successfully launched the country’s first military satellite into orbit after a failed shooting attempt in previous months.