Iran Says It Launched Military Satellite Into Orbit

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Facts

• Iran launched an imaging satellite into space on Wednesday, state media claimed, citing Communications Minister Issa Zarepour. If confirmed, this would mark Tehran's third successful launch of a military satellite in recent years.¹
• The Noor-3 satellite is in orbit 450 km (280 miles) above the Earth's surface and was launched by the Aerospace Branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) using the domestically built Qassed satellite carrier, Zarepour said.²
• The announcement comes after Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said in August that Tehran was 'involved in the development and launch of satellites,' adding that Iran planned to launch at least two domestically built satellites into space in 2023.³
• The US accused Iran of violating a UN Security Council resolution with its satellite launches, claiming that the technology used for a satellite launch is similar to that used to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear weapon.⁴
• In 2019, the IRGC — which runs its own space program in parallel with Iran's regular armed forces and is answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — was designated a terrorist organization by the US.⁵
• After failed civilian test launches in 2019, the IRGC put the country's first military satellite, Noor-1, into space in 2020 and Noor-2 in 2022 using its homegrown three-stage Qassed launch vehicle propelled by a mixture of solid and liquid fuels.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Mehr news agency, ³Presstv, ⁴Arab news, ⁵Dw.com and ⁶Al mayadeen english.

Narratives

• Pro-Iran narrative, as provided by Presstv. The launch of the Noor-3 is the latest example of the enormous progress Iran's space industry has made in recent years — despite the illegal sanctions imposed by the West. Iran is now among the world's top 10 countries capable of developing and launching satellites. No matter how much pressure Washington and its allies exert, Tehran will continue to surprise the world in the coming years with its technological achievements to defend its national sovereignty.
• Anti-Iran narrative, as provided by Abc news. It's an exaggeration for Tehran to celebrate the presumed successful launch of Noor-3 as further proof of its technological advancement. The regime had claimed the same in 2020, but the satellite did not provide any significant intelligence — not least thanks to Western sanctions. Iran also suffered unsuccessful satellite launches in recent years. However, since Iran could also use its space program to develop nuclear weapons, the international community should still be very vigilant.

Predictions