Post by Andrei Tchentchik on May 2, 2020 11:02:40 GMT 2
(.#B.037).- Iran launches military satellite, new escalation with the USA.22/04/2020.
Iran launches military satellite amid further escalation with Washington.
PHOTO VIA AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
(Tehran) Iran announced on Wednesday the launch of its first military satellite, immediately denounced by the United States against the backdrop of a new escalation of tensions in the Gulf, where Donald Trump threatens to "destroy" Iranian boats.
Posted on April 22, 2020, 5:44 p.m.
AHMAD PARHIZI
FRANCE MEDIA AGENCY
The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, boasted of the successful launch of the "Nour" satellite ("Light" in Persian). It is a "new development in space for Islamic Iran," they said on their Sepahnews website.
The satellite "orbited Earth at 425 km" after being launched from the Markazi Desert in central Iran, they said.
State television broadcast images of what it claimed to be the rocket-mounted satellite at the time of launch. It is a "great national achievement," said Iranian Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi.
This launch - whose success could not be independently verified - is only a "facade for the development by Iran of advanced ballistic technologies", quickly denounced Israel, saying it saw a violation of the UN Security Council resolution 2231.
" Accountable "
This text enjoins Tehran to "carry out no activity linked to ballistic missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear charges, including fire using ballistic missile technology".
US Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo also said the launch was "contrary" to the United Nations resolution and demonstrated that the United States was "right" in denouncing masked "missile" fire programs.
"Iran will have to be accountable," he warned.
"There are limits and lines not to cross if they do not want to suffer the consequences," also threatened US Vice Defense Minister David Norquist.
This episode takes place in a context that is again explosive between the two enemy countries.
Most recently, a new incident brought American ships and Revolutionary Guard stars into the Gulf waters. The Pentagon then accused Tehran of "dangerous maneuvers" at sea.
On Wednesday, President Trump said he gave orders to "destroy" any Iranian boat "harassing" American ships in the Gulf, which was already the scene of tension attacks last summer against the backdrop of tankers seizures and attacks on Washington-alleged oil installations in Tehran.
"Deterrence"
"Instead of intimidating others, the Americans must do their best to save their troops infected by the coronavirus" and "save their people from the great crisis that has struck this country," replied the spokesman for the armed forces. Iranian, Brigadier General Abdolfazl Shékarchi.
Iran has officially registered almost 5,400 deaths from the new coronavirus and about 86,000 cases of contamination, the heaviest toll in the Middle East, although some believe it is largely underestimated.
Hostility between the two countries has been exacerbated since the United States left the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal two years ago and reinstated punitive economic sanctions against Iran.
These sanctions weigh on the Iranian oil sector, but also, according to Tehran, on its capacity to face the pandemic of new coronavirus.
Tensions reached a new peak after the death of the powerful Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, killed in an American drone strike in Baghdad on January 3.
The Trump administration then claimed to have "restored deterrence" to the Islamic Republic, but Washington hawks, like ex-presidential adviser John Bolton, believe the latest events are "Proof" of still insufficient pressure.
On February 9, Iran failed to put into orbit a scientific observation satellite, dubbed "Zafar" ("Victory" in Persian). Its launch had been condemned by Paris and Washington, which had accused Tehran of wanting to strengthen its skills in the field of ballistic missiles by launching satellites.
Claiming that it has no plans to acquire atomic weapons, Tehran assures that its ballistic and space programs do not go against the resolution of the United Nations.
F I N .
Iran launches military satellite amid further escalation with Washington.
PHOTO VIA AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
(Tehran) Iran announced on Wednesday the launch of its first military satellite, immediately denounced by the United States against the backdrop of a new escalation of tensions in the Gulf, where Donald Trump threatens to "destroy" Iranian boats.
Posted on April 22, 2020, 5:44 p.m.
AHMAD PARHIZI
FRANCE MEDIA AGENCY
The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, boasted of the successful launch of the "Nour" satellite ("Light" in Persian). It is a "new development in space for Islamic Iran," they said on their Sepahnews website.
The satellite "orbited Earth at 425 km" after being launched from the Markazi Desert in central Iran, they said.
State television broadcast images of what it claimed to be the rocket-mounted satellite at the time of launch. It is a "great national achievement," said Iranian Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi.
This launch - whose success could not be independently verified - is only a "facade for the development by Iran of advanced ballistic technologies", quickly denounced Israel, saying it saw a violation of the UN Security Council resolution 2231.
" Accountable "
This text enjoins Tehran to "carry out no activity linked to ballistic missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear charges, including fire using ballistic missile technology".
US Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo also said the launch was "contrary" to the United Nations resolution and demonstrated that the United States was "right" in denouncing masked "missile" fire programs.
"Iran will have to be accountable," he warned.
"There are limits and lines not to cross if they do not want to suffer the consequences," also threatened US Vice Defense Minister David Norquist.
This episode takes place in a context that is again explosive between the two enemy countries.
Most recently, a new incident brought American ships and Revolutionary Guard stars into the Gulf waters. The Pentagon then accused Tehran of "dangerous maneuvers" at sea.
On Wednesday, President Trump said he gave orders to "destroy" any Iranian boat "harassing" American ships in the Gulf, which was already the scene of tension attacks last summer against the backdrop of tankers seizures and attacks on Washington-alleged oil installations in Tehran.
"Deterrence"
"Instead of intimidating others, the Americans must do their best to save their troops infected by the coronavirus" and "save their people from the great crisis that has struck this country," replied the spokesman for the armed forces. Iranian, Brigadier General Abdolfazl Shékarchi.
Iran has officially registered almost 5,400 deaths from the new coronavirus and about 86,000 cases of contamination, the heaviest toll in the Middle East, although some believe it is largely underestimated.
Hostility between the two countries has been exacerbated since the United States left the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal two years ago and reinstated punitive economic sanctions against Iran.
These sanctions weigh on the Iranian oil sector, but also, according to Tehran, on its capacity to face the pandemic of new coronavirus.
Tensions reached a new peak after the death of the powerful Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, killed in an American drone strike in Baghdad on January 3.
The Trump administration then claimed to have "restored deterrence" to the Islamic Republic, but Washington hawks, like ex-presidential adviser John Bolton, believe the latest events are "Proof" of still insufficient pressure.
On February 9, Iran failed to put into orbit a scientific observation satellite, dubbed "Zafar" ("Victory" in Persian). Its launch had been condemned by Paris and Washington, which had accused Tehran of wanting to strengthen its skills in the field of ballistic missiles by launching satellites.
Claiming that it has no plans to acquire atomic weapons, Tehran assures that its ballistic and space programs do not go against the resolution of the United Nations.
F I N .
