Tehran rejected on Wednesday August 10 the American allegations according to which the Iranian satellite launched by Russia would be intended for “
espionage
” activities.
The Khayyam satellite was launched on Tuesday by a Soyuz-2.1B rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, controlled by Moscow.
Read alsoIran will control “from day one” its satellite which will be launched by Russia
Reacting to the launch, Washington said Russia's growing cooperation with Iran should be seen as a "
profound threat
".
“
We are aware of reports that Russia launched a satellite with significant spy capabilities on behalf of Iran
,” a US State Department spokesperson said.
“
Sometimes certain comments are made to stir up tensions
,” retorted the head of the Iranian Space Agency Hassan Salarieh.
“
To say that we want to engage in spying operations with the Khayyam satellite...is really childish
,” he told reporters.
"
Khayyam is fully designed and built to meet the needs of the country in various areas of urban crisis management, natural resources, mining, agriculture, etc
,” he added.
The satellite was launched amid controversy that Moscow could use it to boost its surveillance of military targets in Ukraine.
Last week, the Washington Post quoted unnamed Western intelligence officials assuring that Russia “
plans to use the satellite for several months or more
” in its war in Ukraine before handing over control to Iran.
The Iranian space agency had already affirmed on Sunday that the Islamic Republic would control the satellite "
from day
one " in particular to "
monitor (its) borders, improve agricultural productivity and monitor water resources and natural disasters
".
Read alsoIran announces the launch of a new military satellite
Khayyam, named after the 11th-century Persian polymath Omar Khayyam, is not the first Iranian satellite put into orbit by Russia.
In 2005, Sina-1 was deployed from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
Iran insists its space program is for civilian and defense purposes only, and does not violate the 2015 nuclear deal or any other international agreement.
Western governments fear that satellite launch systems incorporate technologies interchangeable with those used in ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, which Iran has always denied wanting to build.
Iran succeeded in putting its first military satellite into orbit in April 2020, drawing the wrath of the United States.