Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Iran announces new space launch

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 Dec 2021 13:39
3 Min Read

The announcement comes during a tense time of nuclear negotiations in Vienna.

  • x
  • Iran launches rocket amid Vienna talks
    Iran's rocket launch as depicted on Iranian state TV

Amid ongoing nuclear negotiations in Vienna to revive the 2015 deal, Iran has announced the launch of a new space program.

Defense Ministry Spokesperson Ahmad Hosseini was quoted by state television as saying, "The Simorgh satellite launcher carried three research cargos into space," adding that the research goals foreseen for the launch "have been achieved."

Hosseini did not elaborate on the nature of the research, although Iran announced a successful test of its most powerful solid fuel satellite launcher, the Zoljanah, in February.

The Zoljanah could deliver a 1,100-pound payload into the orbit, according to the announcement in February. 

Of course, the US expressed alarm over the launch, saying it may strengthen Iran's ballistic missile capability.

April 2020 brought the first successful military satellite of Iran into orbit. 

Related News

FMs of Iran, Egypt push for Muslim unity, action to stop Gaza genocide

Europe has no right to invoke snapback mechanism under JCPOA: Azizi

Although Iran has repeatedly expressed that its space program is solely for civilian and defense purposes and has not breached any nuclear agreements, Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of incorporating technologies that could be used for military and nuclear purposes.

The nuclear agreement was abandoned by US former President Donald Trump in 2018 when he reimposed sanctions on Iran. 

During the 7th round of the Vienna nuclear negotiations, the Iranian delegation to Vienna had five demands, the most pressing of which is the lifting of JCPOA-related sanctions.

Simorgh successfully delivers three research cargoes to the orbit

Tasnim news agency quoted Ahmad Hosseini, the Iranian Defense Ministry Spokesperson, as saying the satellite-bearing rocket has successfully sent three research cargos into orbit at an altitude of nearly 292 miles and speed of 7,350 km/s. 

Iran began developing space technology in the early 2000s, utilizing the Shahab-4 surface-to-air missile as a foundation for developing its own satellite launcher. As a further step toward fulfilling its space ambitions, Iran completed the building of the domestic Semnan launching facility in 2009.

Due to high costs, the space program was suspended in 2015 and resumed in 2017 when the Simorgh was launched and failed to reach orbit. 

The Safir rocket's launch with the Dusti satellite in 2019 was also unsuccessful. However, in 2020, Iran launched Nour-1, its first military satellite, into a 425-kilometer orbit using a three-stage Qased rocket.

For years, the US and its allies have been concerned about Iran's space program. The US, Germany, and France have frequently denounced Iran for bolstering its military capabilities and eroding the nuclear deal's underpinnings.

  • Iran nuclear deal
  • Washington
  • Vienna talks
  • Nuclear Deal
  • Iran

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS