Iran launches rocket amid nuclear talks

Following a televised launch on Thursday morning, Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman Ahmad Hosseini confirmed the country released a satellite carrier for three “research devices” from an undisclosed location. The ministry did not say whether the rocket entered Earth’s orbit or what the devices are. The nation’s government is currently in the middle of negotiations in Vienna to restore Tehran’s nuclear deal, which former President Donald Trump pulled out of in 2018.

What is Iran up to? Hosseini said the rocket went 470 kilometers, or 290 miles, into the atmosphere. A low Earth orbit begins at 100 miles up. The Islamic-run state news agency reported the launch went well and “the desired goals have been achieved.” The blast-offs have concerned the United States and the United Nations Security Council as they might indicate a renewed focus on ballistic missile development. Since the nuclear deal fell through, Iran abandoned the agreement’s limitations, ramped up uranium enrichment, and President Ebrahim Raisi has convened Iran’s Supreme Council of Space for the first time in 11 years.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard interview former Defense Department staffer Robert Wilkie about Iran’s diplomacy on The World and Everything in It podcast.