A rocket carrying three satellites failed to reach the required speed during Iran’s launch of a satellite carrier rocket, a spokesman for the defense ministry said in comments broadcast on state television on Friday.
In a bid to curb Tehran’s nuclear program, western countries widely condemned the launch on Thursday.
As a result of progress made in the Vienna negotiations, France deemed the rocket launch “all the more regrettable” on Friday.
It was intended to launch three research devices into space, but western nations have expressed concern that such activities could be used by Iran to develop its ability to launch ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.
“Due to the close proximity of the technologies used for space launches and ballistic fire, this launch directly contributes to Iran’s already worrying progress in its ballistic missile program. The role of the Ministry of Defense in this launch bears witness to the close link between these two programs,” said the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.
“This launch also follows the firing of ballistic missiles on December 24.”
Iranian officials have long denied the allegations that their space program has been used to develop ballistic missiles. The country also denies that such launches are in violation of United Nations resolutions.
Ahmad Hosseini, the spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, told Reuters the missile didn’t reach the speed at which its payload, in this case, a satellite, could be launched into orbit.
In response to Western criticism, Iran has indicated it will conduct more tests to put satellites into orbit and has defended its space program as an “inalienable right” of the Iranian people.
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