World worried about its nukes, Iran fires satellite

Iran said on Tuesday it had launched what it described as its first satellite produced domestically as part of an effort to build a space industry. The launch on Monday, coinciding with celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, came at a time when the United States and other powers are worried about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its deployment of long-range ballistic missiles with potential military uses.

It also came soon after President Obama struck a conciliatory tone toward Iran, conditionally offering dialogue after years of increasing tension over fears that Tehran wants to develop nuclear missiles — which Iran’s leaders deny.

The official news agency, IRNA, said the satellite was launched using a Safir-2 rocket and was “successfully set into orbit.” The satellite was named Omid, meaning hope, IRNA said, and was sent into space as a “data-processing satellite project” that began in March 2005 as “the first practical step toward acquiring national space technology.”

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