Iran says it sent Revolutionary Guard research satellite into space

Iran sent a research satellite into orbit with a rocket built by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, the state-run IRNA news agency reports.

The report says the Chamran-1 satellite has a weight of 60 kilograms and successfully reached a 550-kilometer (341-mile) orbit in space. It says testing space hardware and software is the main mission of the satellite.

IRNA says land stations received signals from the satellite.

It says the satellite-carrier rocket Qaem-100, using solid fuel, was designed and made by the Guard aerospace division. Iran says it has 13 more satellite launches in a row.

Though Iran has long planned to send satellites into orbit, this is the first launch under Iranian President Masoud Pezezhkian.

In January, Iran said it successfully launched three satellites into space with a rocket.

The program is seen by the West as part of the improvement of Tehran’s ballistic missiles.

The United States has previously said Iran’s satellite launches defy a UN Security Council resolution and called on Tehran to undertake no activity involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. UN sanctions related to Iran’s ballistic missile program expired last October.