Iran says it’s put a second military satellite into orbit

Iran said on Tuesday it had launched a second military satellite into orbit as talks on reactivating the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers reached a critical stage.

“Iran’s second military satellite, Nour-2, has been launched into space by the Qassed rocket in the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace wing and successfully launched into orbit 500 kilometers (310 miles) above Earth, “IRNA reported. reported the agency.

The Revolutionary Guards described the Nour-2 as a “reconnaissance satellite” in a statement on its Sepah News website.

Iran launched its first military satellite into orbit in April 2020, prompting strong disapproval from Washington.

Sepah News said Tuesday that the Nour-1 “was still fully operational and transmitting data.”

The United States has repeatedly expressed concern that the launch could increase Iran’s ballistic missile technology, but Iran insists it is not looking for nuclear weapons and that its satellite and rocket launches are for civilian purposes only. or defensive.

In late December, Iran announced that it had could not launch “three search loads” transported by a Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite carrier as the rocket was unable to reach the required speed.

In January, Iran tested a solid-fuel rocket for its satellite program, state media reported.

The main powers involved in talks to return Washington to the nuclear deal with Iran after the withdrawal of then-President Donald Trump in 2018 have said the deal is ready.

Iran and the UN nuclear control agency said on Saturday they had agreed on an approach to resolving key issues, but new Russian demands stemming from the Ukraine conflict could delay an agreement.

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• nuclear deal with Iran