Iranian space program is considered a missile development program capable of carrying nuclear warheads • Netanyahu responded: "They also fail to deliver weapons to Syria and Lebanon"
Iranian satellite launch into space in 2010 (archive) 11 Photo: AFP
The Iranian Defense Ministry confirmed Sunday that launching the "Zafer" satellite (victory) into space failed. The Iranians introduced the launch itself, from the Seamanman space base as successful but noted that the satellite failed to gain the speed needed to enter orbit into space.
"It was successfully launched and we achieved most of our targets, but Zafar did not go on track," a military spokesman said in an interview with Iranian government television.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Responded to the Iranian Satellite Launch at a Nahariya Likud Conference: "We were told today that Iran has failed to launch a satellite.
The first Iranian satellite was launched in 2009 but the last two launches last year failed. Iranian Information Minister Mohammed Jawad Azari-Jeromei pledged before launching that the first image the satellite would broadcast would be that of Qassem Suleimani.
The Iranian space program is considered in Israel and the United States to be a cover program designed to develop long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
At the same time, Revolutionary Guards revealed a new missile yesterday to mark the anniversary of the Islamic coup that led to the establishment of the Ayatollah regime. The short-range Rad (Thunder) -500 missile was introduced by the Revolutionary Guards commander and presented as "cheaper, easier, faster and more accurate" from identical missiles. Iranians say the missile can reach a range of up to 500 km. Iran frequently exhibits technological developments that it claims were developed by the local military industry but these developments have not been proven on the battlefield.
