Israel Matzav

Raw video of Iranian satellite launch

Iran joined an exclusive club of countries who have satellites in space early Tuesday morning. Let's go to the videotape to watch the launch and then I'll have more.



Israel Radio reported earlier that Israeli scientists believe that the satellite was launched and is in orbit. That has not yet been confirmed. But that's not good news for Israel.

The launch of the Omid (Hope) research satellite, hailed by Iran as a major progress in its space technology, may irritate the administration of new U.S. President Barack Obama, who has said he sees the Islamic Republic as a threat but is also offering direct dialogue with its leaders.

The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit can also be used for launching weapons, although Tehran says it has no plans to do so. Analysts said the move would likely worry Israel and other states in the Middle East.

"Dear Iranian nation, your children have placed the first indigenous satellite into orbit," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a televised message.

It comes ahead of a meeting on Wednesday by senior officials from six world powers -- the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China -- to discuss the nuclear row with Iran. It will be their first gathering since Obama took office.

The Obama administration has signaled that it will pursue direct talks with Tehran but has also warned Iran to expect more pressure if it does not meet the U.N. Security Council demand to halt atomic work the West fears has military aims.

Sending the Omid into space is a message to the world that Iran is "very powerful and you have to deal with us in the right way," an Iranian political analyst said.

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"With God's help and the desire for justice and peace, the official presence of the Islamic Republic was registered in space," Ahmadinejad said.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, speaking during a visit to Ethiopia, also said the satellite had peaceful aims.

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But Andrew Brookes of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) think-tank in London said the development would worry Israel and others in region.

"They will think that this civilian capability will soon be transformed to a military reconnaissance and intelligence gathering capability," he said by telephone. "You don't invest all that just to launch a satellite TV channel."

Isaac Ben-Israel, a former head of Israel Space Agency, said vehicles to use satellites could also have military uses.

"If they managed to fire a satellite into space it means they can also reach Western Europe," he told Reuters in Jerusalem.

Assuming the report is correct, Iran becomes the 43rd nation with a satellite in space, but only the 8th to launch a domestically produced satellite.

UPDATE 2:31 PM

Israel Radio reports that France is concerned that the technology used for this morning's satellite launch by Iran is the same that is used for launching ballistic missiles.

Gee, maybe now that they understand that Iran is targeting them too, the Euroweenies will wake up.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:50 PM