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Iran 'launches rocket into space' Iran 'launches rocket into space'
(20 minutes later)
Iran says it has successfully fired its first rocket into space. Iran has successfully fired its first rocket into space, Iranian state television has announced.
Iranian TV gave few details about the rocket or its range, except to say its testing was in line with international regulations. It gave few details about the rocket or its range, but said that it had carried cargo intended for research.
Iran already has a civilian satellite programme but so far it has relied on Russia to put its satellite into orbit. Iran already has a civilian satellite programme but so far has relied on Russia to put its satellite into orbit.
Tehran has recently said that it wanted to be able to send its own satellites, but revealed little information about the project. The launch - if confirmed - comes at a time of mounting tension between Tehran and the West over Iran's controversial nuclear programme.
"The first space rocket has been successfully launched into space," Iranian TV said.
It quoted the head of Iran's aerospace research centre, Mohsen Bahrami, as saying that "the rocket was carrying material intended for research created by the ministries of science and defence".
Concerns
In 2005, Iran's Russian-made satellite was put into orbit by a Russian rocket.
But soon afterwards Iranian military officials said they were preparing a satellite launch vehicle. Last month, they announced they were ready to test it soon, the BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says.
The ballistic technology used is believed to be an extension of Iran's long-range Shahab-3 missile, our correspondent says.
She says that military experts believe that if Iran has sent a rocket into space it means scientists have mastered the technology needed to cross the atmospheric barrier.
In practice, they say, that means there is no technological block to Iran building longer range missiles now, something that will be of great international concern.
Our correspondent says the timing of this announcement is clearly confrontational - just as the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are about to meet to discuss the possibility of more sanctions over the nuclear issue.