US and Germany Criticize Launch of Simorgh Satellite Carrier Rocket
Iran announced a “successful launch” of the Simorgh satellite carrier missile simultaneously with Vienna negotiations. While world powers have called this action a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, Iran’s deputy defense minister said more missiles will be launched soon.
Iran announced on Thursday, December 30, the launch of the Simorgh satellite carrier missile while talks to revive the JCPOA were underway.
The launch of this satellite carrier, which Iran claimed was successful, drew criticism from countries including Germany and the United States. There are concerns that Iran is conducting missile tests under the guise of its satellite program.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said that Iran’s development of satellite carrier missiles raises significant concerns about nuclear weapons proliferation. The spokesperson described such actions as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions regarding the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Germany has also asked Iran to stop launching satellite carrier missiles. A German diplomat stated that these launches could be used to test ballistic missile technology and carry nuclear weapons.
The diplomat called on Iran to refrain from these activities and remain committed to UN Security Council resolution obligations.
However, one day after the launch of Simorgh 6, and while there is no confirmed news about it reaching orbit, Mehdi Farahi, deputy defense minister of the Islamic Republic, announced that Iran will launch additional satellite carriers by the end of the year on the occasion of “Fajr Decade.”
He said that this time the Simorgh 6 satellite carrier will be used, which has more advanced technology compared to previous versions.
The defense ministry of the Islamic Republic has four failed satellite launches on its record.
The long-range missile program of the Islamic Republic has always been one of the contentious issues with Western parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Since the start of JCPOA revival talks in Vienna, the Defense Ministry and the Aerospace Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have increased the number of their missile tests and military exercises, an issue that has repeatedly faced significant criticism even within Iran.
Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif, spokesperson for the IRGC, responded to these criticisms on Tuesday, claiming that missile tests and JCPOA revival talks are unrelated, and added: “When the enemy is aware of Iran’s power, they pay attention during negotiations, because it’s not the case that they want to take something and leave.”
Source: DW
