(Scypre.com) – On Sunday, Iran marked a significant milestone in its space exploration endeavors by successfully launching three satellites into orbit using the Simorgh rocket. This achievement is particularly notable as the Simorgh program had previously experienced a string of unsuccessful attempts.
The successful launch is a crucial development for Iran, especially given the context of rising tensions in the Middle East, notably the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip involving Israel and Hamas.
Iran’s space program has been a subject of international scrutiny, with concerns from Western nations regarding its potential dual-use capabilities. The launch’s timing is critical, coinciding with a period of heightened regional unrest. Iran, while not directly involved in the military aspects of the Gaza conflict, has felt increasing domestic pressure to respond, particularly following a devastating suicide bombing by the Islamic State and attacks linked to the war by proxy groups such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Concurrently, Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program continues to alarm Western nations.
The launch, which was broadcast on state television, took place at night from the Imam Khomeini Spaceport located in the rural region of Semnan province. Abbas Rasooli, a state TV reporter, vividly described the launch, noting the resonating roar of the Simorgh rocket. The satellites launched include Mahda, described as a research satellite, and two nanosatellites, Kayhan-2 and Hatef-1, focused on global positioning and communication, respectively. Following the launch, Iran’s Information and Communications Technology Minister, Isa Zarepour, confirmed that the Mahda satellite had successfully communicated with Earth.
The Simorgh, also known as “Phoenix,” is a two-stage, liquid-fueled rocket designed to place satellites into a low Earth orbit. Its development has not been without challenges, including a series of failures, fatal fires, and an explosion at the launchpad that caught the attention of the global community, including former U.S. President Donald Trump. The slogan “We Can” adorned the rocket launched on Sunday, a symbolic nod to overcoming past failures.
From an international perspective, the U.S. intelligence community has expressed concerns regarding the technological overlap between satellite launch vehicles like the Simorgh and the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. This concern stems from the use of similar technology in both applications, potentially shortening the timeline for Iran to develop such long-range weapons. This worry is underscored by the U.S. intelligence community’s 2023 worldwide threat assessment, which specifically cites the Simorgh rocket in this context.
The launch also raises questions about Iran’s compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions, particularly those pertaining to activities involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Notably, U.N. sanctions related to Iran’s ballistic missile program expired in the previous year.
Iran’s space program has seen shifts in its trajectory, slowing down under the more moderate former President Hassan Rouhani to avoid exacerbating tensions with the West. However, since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal and the rise of hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, a protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the program has been revitalized. This resurgence occurs alongside Iran’s continued enrichment of uranium to levels closer to weapons-grade and the accumulation of material sufficient for several atomic bombs. Despite this, U.S. intelligence agencies and others believe Tehran has not actively pursued a nuclear weapon.
The reaction from the international community to Iran’s satellite launch has been mixed. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have condemned the launch, perceiving it as aiding Iran in developing long-range ballistic missiles. These countries have reiterated their longstanding concerns over Iran’s ballistic missile activities, particularly those capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
As these developments unfold, the United States military and the State Department have not immediately commented on the launch. However, there has been an acknowledgment of the success of a launch conducted by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard earlier in the month.
In a related incident, the United Kingdom’s Defense Ministry reported that one of its warships, the HMS Diamond, intercepted a drone launched by the Houthi rebels from Yemen in the Red Sea. The drone was successfully shot down by the warship’s Sea Viper missile system without causing any damage or injuries. The Defense Ministry emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, denouncing these attacks as intolerable and illegal.
The Houthis, who have targeted U.S. and British ships, claim their attacks aim to pressure Israel to cease its actions in the Gaza Strip. However, their increasingly indiscriminate attacks have had wider implications, disrupting international trade and further complicating the already volatile situation in the region.