Tehran: Iran has successfully carried out a test of its latest “Qased” satellite launch vehicle, a three-stage rocket developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
This marks Iran’s first such test following recent military confrontations with Israel. The announcement was made by Iran’s official news agency, Tasnim, and comes amid heightened regional tensions.
The recent test, conducted on Monday, was a suborbital flight aimed at evaluating emerging technologies within Iran’s space program, rather than deploying a satellite into orbit.
The Qased rocket, which first launched in 2020, has been used to place satellites such as Noor-2 and Noor-3 into low Earth orbit—missions that have drawn international concern over Iran’s missile development efforts.
Experts warn that the technological similarities between Iran’s satellite launchers like Qased and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) suggest Iran could be progressing toward developing long-range missile capabilities. Western intelligence agencies have expressed concern that Iran’s space program serves as a covert pathway to advancing missile technology.
In recent weeks, Israel launched targeted strikes against Iranian missile production facilities during what it called “Operation Rising Lion,” aiming to weaken Iran’s missile arsenal. Despite these actions, Iran claims it still maintains substantial missile launch capacity.
