IRAN launched a rocket yesterday designed to carry its first locally made research satellite next year, showing the country's advances in ballistics at a time when western powers are jittery about its nuclear plans.
The United States called the rocket test "unfortunate" and said it would further isolate Tehran from the international community.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad read out the launch countdown before it blasted off to chants of "God is greatest" by
officials in a control room, state TV reported.
The technology used to put satellites into space could also be used to launch weapons, but analysts voiced different opinions about the significance of Iran's move.
The West fears Iran is trying to master nuclear technology so it can build bombs. Iran insists its plans are peaceful.
British-based defence analyst Paul Beaver said the implications of the test may worry the US and Israel.
"The Israelis will claim there is no reason why they (Iran] can't launch a weapon system in the same way or why they can't make a long-range ballistic missile," he said.
Television footage showed the rocket soaring into the sky from a desert launch pad, leaving a vapour trail. A parachute appeared to drop from the rocket shortly after the launch. State television gave few details about the rocket.
State media said the satellite, called Omid (Hope), would be launched by March 2009.
Mr Ahmadinejad said: "We need an active and influential presence in space. Building and launching a satellite is a very important achievement."
In Washington, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said: "It's unfortunate Iran continues to test ballistic missiles. This regime continues to take steps that only further isolate it and the Iranian people from the international community."
Western experts say Iran rarely gives enough details for them to determine the extent of its technological advances, and much Iranian technology consists of modifications of equipment supplied by China, North Korea and others.
Andrew Brookes, a defence analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, agreed that Iran was advancing.
"This could be Iran telling Israel that whatever you can do we can do too," he said.
The full article contains 365 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
