Iran says launches satellite rocket
Iran said on Wednesday it had launched a Kavoshgar-3 rocket capable
of carrying a satellite, a move Washington described as a "provocative
act".
Western powers fear Iran is trying to build nuclear bombs and that
the long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit
can also be used to launch warheads. Iran says its nuclear programme is
solely to generate electricity.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the launch was a huge breakthrough
which would help break "the global domineering system" a reference to
Iran's Western foes.
"A launch like that is obviously a provocative act," White House
spokesman Bill Burton told reporters.
"But the president believes that it is not too late for Iran to do
the right thing come to the table with the international community and
live up to its international obligations."
France, which together with the United States, Britain and Germany is
discussing a fourth round of sanctions against Iran, said it would press
for strong measures against Tehran at the United Nations, with time
running out for a political solution.
"We are going to seek the adoption of a new resolution at the United
Nations incorporating strong sanctions," Prime Minister Francois Fillon
said.
On Tuesday, Ahmadinejad had struck a more conciliatory note, saying
Iran was ready to send its enriched uranium abroad in what appeared to
be an easing of its position in the dispute.
Speaking at a ceremony unveiling satellite technology, Ahmadinejad
said Iran hoped to send astronauts into space soon.
State Press TV showed a rocket blasting off from a desert launchpad
leaving a thick vapour trail. The home-built Kavoshgar-3 (Explorer-3)
carried "living organisms", it said.
ISNA news agency said the capsule successfully returned to earth with
its "passengers" a mouse, worms and two turtles.
Mark Fitzpatrick at London's International Institute for Strategic
Studies said the launch was one of a series and not particularly more
significant than others.
"They contribute to Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, but do not
foretell an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) capability or
anything else capable of threatening Western Europe or the U.S.
homeland," Fitzpatrick said.
Western counter-proliferation sources also said the Kavoshgar-3 was
not a military system and was not a threat.
The rocket, propelled by liquid fuel, was a testing device for space
systems that normally rises about 100 km (60 miles) above the surface of
the earth before returning on a parachute.
In May 2009, a U.S.-Russia assessment estimated Iran was six to eight
years away from producing a ballistic missile able to deliver a 1,000 kg
nuclear warhead to a range of 2,000 km.
On Monday, a Pentagon report said Iran had expanded its ballistic
missile capabilities and posed a significant threat to U.S. and allied
forces in the Middle East region.
In December, Iran said it test-fired a long-range, upgraded Sejil 2
missile. Britain said at the time the launch was of serious concern and
underlined the case for tougher sanctions.
The Iranian president made no mention of the nuclear row at the
aerospace event.
Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday Iran was ready to send its enriched
uranium abroad in exchange for nuclear fuel. He appeared for the first
time to drop Tehran's long-standing conditions on a deal with global
powers.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, speaking in Turkey on Wednesday,
said Tehran was considering the swap option.
"The swap formula is a more confidence-inspiring formula compared to
other formulas. For that reason, we have to keep that formula on the
table," he told a news conference in Ankara.
He said Iran was in talks with the International Atomic Energy
Agency, Russia, France and the United States in Vienna.
The United States said that if Iran was serious it should tell the
IAEA. Russia said it would welcome an Iranian decision on enrichment and
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Iran must make real
concessions and not just talk about them.
"If that doesn't happen and it's all just tactics, the international
community will agree on further measures. Then sanctions cannot be ruled
out," he told N-24 television.
Analysts believe that because of the threat of sanctions, Iran is
trying to buy time to evade more domestic pressure. Ahmadinejad has been
in favour of the deal because he wanted to win some legitimacy following
last year's disputed presidential elections that have triggered
anti-government protests.
"Ahmadinejad wanted a deal, wanted some sort of agreement with the
international community, especially with the United States, because it
is clear he thought he would be able to use a foreign policy success to
enhance his domestic standing," Volker Perthes, director of the German
Institute for International and Security Affairs, told Austrian
broadcaster ORF.
"The deal is not struck just because the president says Iran is ready
for a deal ... This is simply a sign that Iran is ready to come back to
the negotiating table."
U.S. General David Petraeus told Reuters this week any military
strike on Iran to quash its nuclear ambitions could have the unintended
consequence of stirring nationalist sentiment to the benefit of
Ahmadinejad's government. Tehran, Thursday, Reuters |