The United States Quietly Recognizes Iran’s Successful Satellite Launch

The United States has acknowledged that Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard successfully launched an imaging satellite into orbit this week. The launch resembled previous ones that had been criticized by Washington for aiding Tehran’s ballistic missile program. The U.S. military has not officially commented on the matter since Iran announced the launch of the Noor-3 satellite on Wednesday.

Data published by space-track.org, supplied by the 18th Space Defense Squadron of the U.S. Space Force, confirmed the successful launch of the Noor-3 satellite by Iran. The satellite was placed at an altitude of over 280 miles above the Earth’s surface, corresponding to reports by Iranian state media.

The rocket carrying the satellite was identified as a Qased, a three-stage rocket that was first launched by the Revolutionary Guard in 2020. The launch was conducted from a mobile launcher at a Guard base near Shahroud, in Semnan province.

General Ali Jafarabadi, the Guard’s space commander, described the Noor-3 satellite as having improved image accuracy compared to its predecessor, Noor-2. He also highlighted the addition of thrusters that allow the satellite to maneuver in orbit. Jafarabadi mentioned Iran’s broader ambitions for its satellite program, including potentially controlling drones.

The United States has criticized Iran’s satellite launches, stating that they violate a U.N. Security Council resolution. The U.S. called on Iran to refrain from any activity involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Sanctions related to Iran’s ballistic missile program are set to expire in October.

Iran’s successful satellite launch poses a significant concern for regional and international security and remains a nonproliferation concern, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department.

Source: The Associated Press

Definitions:
– Paramilitary: An organization that operates like a military force but is not part of a country’s official armed forces.
– Revolutionary Guard: A paramilitary force in Iran that operates alongside the regular armed forces.
– Ballistic missile: A type of missile that follows a ballistic trajectory when it is propelled into the air.

Source: The Associated Press