TEHRAN, Iran – Iran successfully launched a satellite into orbit on Saturday, September 14, 2024, using a rocket built by the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, according to state-run media.
The event, which involved the Chamran-1 satellite and the Qaem-100 rocket, has raised concerns in the West due to the dual-use nature of the technology, which could potentially accelerate Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities.
The Qaem-100, a solid-fuel, three-stage rocket, launched the 132-pound Chamran-1 satellite into a 340-mile orbit, according to Tasnim News Agency.
The launch, broadcast on Iranian media, took place from a mobile platform near Shahroud, about 215 miles east of Tehran.
This marks the second successful satellite deployment by the Qaem-100 rocket this year.
Heightened Tensions in the Region
The launch comes at a time of escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly following Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Iran’s support for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that launched an attack on southern Israel in October 2023, has further heightened tensions.
Since the conflict began, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health officials, with widespread destruction and displacement in Gaza.
Iran’s satellite program, while described as civilian by its government, has drawn significant scrutiny from Western nations, including the United States.
The technology used in Iran’s space program has raised concerns about its potential to advance
Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, particularly in the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which could potentially carry nuclear warheads.
International Response
Western governments, including the U.S., have previously warned Iran against conducting satellite launches, arguing that they violate United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting Iran from activities involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
Despite these warnings, Iran has continued to push forward with its space ambitions.
The U.S. intelligence community and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have also warned that Iran possesses enough enriched uranium to produce several nuclear weapons, should it decide to do so.
While Tehran denies pursuing nuclear arms, the satellite launches suggest an ongoing commitment to advancing both its space program and its military capabilities.
Future of Iran’s Space Programme
Iran’s space ambitions have accelerated under its current leadership, despite the death of President Ebrahim Raisi earlier this year in a helicopter crash.
Raisi’s hardline approach had pushed the country’s space program forward after a period of stagnation under former President Hassan Rouhani, who had sought to avoid provoking the West.
While uncertainty remains about the future direction of Iran’s space program following Raisi’s death, the continued launches demonstrate the country’s intent to maintain its technological advancements. The international community, particularly the West, continues to monitor these developments closely.
