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. 

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.