Iran

Iran launches its first satellite

Article published on the 2009-02-03 Latest update 2009-02-03 13:53 TU

The Omid satellite is carried into space by the Safir-2 rocket.
(Photo: Reuters)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad jubilantly announced the launch of Iran’s first domestically-built satellite into Earth’s orbit Tuesday, a launch timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the nation’s Islamic revolution.

“Dear Iranians, your children have put the first indigenous satellite into orbit,” Ahmadinejad said on state television. “With this launch the Islamic Republic of Iran has officially achieved a presence in space.”

The Omid satellite, named after the Persian word for hope, was sent into orbit on Monday evening by the Iranian built Safir-2 space rocket, the Iranian state news agency reported.

France was first to react to the news, expressing concern that will likely be reiterated elsewhere across the West.

The technology used in the launch was “very similar” to that used in ballistic missiles, foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said. “We can’t but link this to the very serious concerns about the development of military nuclear capacity,” he said.

The launch comes as Iran continues to defy UN Security Council demands that it halts its nuclear research, that Western powers claim is being used to develop nuclear weapons.

In the United States, new US President Barack Obama has softened the tone of American foreign policy towards Iran, offering talks without preconditions for the first time in years.