Iran’s monkey space launch sparks nuclear fears

31 January 2013

Concerns grow that Iran is developing long-range missiles

Iran’s announcement that it has sent a monkey into space has led to fears that the country’s space programme is being used for the development of long-range missiles that could carry nuclear warheads.

According to Iranian state TV, a monkey strapped into a Pishgam or Pioneer rocket, was launched into space, reaching an altitude of 120 kilometres, where it was taken on a sub-orbital flight before being returned safely to earth.

The launch is said to be one step further in Iran’s mission to launch a manned space flight. The country continues to deny it is developing nuclear weapons.

However the US state department has said it is concerned by the reports, stating that “any space launch vehicle capable of placing an object in orbit is directly relevant to the development of long-range ballistic missiles”.

Ballistic missile activity in Iran has been explicitly banned under the UN Security Council resolutions since June 2010.

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