Israel concerned over Iran rocket launch – report
Washington, 18 August (IranVNC)—Israel reacted with concern yesterday following reports by Iran’s state media that it had successfully test-launched a rocket capable of carrying a satellite into orbit.
By: IranVNC
Published: Monday, August 18, 2008
14:00GMT—10:00AM/EST
IRAN – ROCKET –LAUNCH – ISRAEL
Washington, 18 August (IranVNC)—Israel reacted with concern yesterday following reports by Iran’s state media that it had successfully test-launched a rocket capable of carrying a satellite into orbit.
“Whoever can launch a satellite to space can also launch heavy payloads to very far distances,” the Jerusalem Post (JP) quoted an unnamed Israeli security official as saying on Israel Radio.
The official warned that the announcement is a far greater cause of concern for Europe than Israel, which was in range of Iran’s missiles before Sunday’s announcement, JP reports.
But on Monday, the former head of the Israel Space Agency and Member of the Knesset [Israel’s parliament] Prof. Yitzhak Ben-Yisrael, said Iran’s test were likely meant as a deterrent to a US or Israeli attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“If Iran were to announce it had successfully launched a satellite into space, this claim could be verified within a day or two,” JP quotes Ben-Yisrael as saying on Israel Army Radio. The Israeli scare following the rocket launch announcement played into Iran’s hands, he said, according to the report.
Iran was very far from launching an espionage satellite, he added.
Iran said last February it had successfully launched a rocket capable of carrying a satellite into orbit, adding it would conduct two more tests before it launches a satellite.
Such technology can be used to deliver ballistic missiles, a cause of concern for Washington and its allies, who fear Iran may be using the cover of a civilian nuclear power program to build nuclear weapons.
“The Iranian development and testing of rockets is troubling and raises further questions about their intentions,” AFP quotes White House National Security Council spokesperson Gordon Johndroe as saying yesterday.
“This action and dual use possibilities for their ballistic missile program have been a subject of IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] discussions and are inconsistent with their UN Security Council obligations,” he added.
Iran, which says it has a right to enrich uranium as part of its civilian nuclear power program, followed yesterday’s announcement by saying today that it is ready to assist Islamic countries in launching satellites.
“I am announcing now that Iran is ready to launch satellites of friendly Islamic countries into space,” Reuters quotes the head of Iran’s Aerospace Organization, Reza Taqipour as saying today.
Also today, the commander of Iran’s Air Force, Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani, said that Iran had modified its fighter jets to fly 1,860 miles (3,000 kilometers) without refueling.
“The region’s countries should know that we are brothers and friends with them and will only defend ourselves against an invader,” Miqani was quoted by the semi-official Fars News Agency as saying.
Iran carried out a series of military exercises in July, firing ballistic missiles it said were capable of reaching Israel. Many Western experts, generally skeptical of Iran’s claim of technological achievements, questioned whether the missiles used in the war games could reach Israel.
In June, Israel conducted a series of military maneuvers over the Mediterranean which some officials in Washington interpreted as a warning to Iran to cease its uranium enrichment activities.
But Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak said last week that the United States currently opposes any military action against Iran’s nuclear sites.
Sources: Jerusalem Post, Agence France-Presse, Fars News Agency in Persian
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