TEHRAN: Iran successfully fired on Wednesday a home-built satellite rocket, Kavoshgar 3, carrying an "experimental capsule," state-owned al-Alam television reported, giving no further details.The move, a part of celebrations marking the 31st anniversary of the founding of the Islamic revolution, may worry Western powers who fear Tehran is seeking to build a nuclear bomb and missile delivery systems.
Western nations are concerned that the long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit can also be used to launch warheads, although Iran says it has no plans to do so.
TV reports showed footage of a rocket blasting off from a launch-pad.
Iranian media said earlier the Islamic Republic would on Wednesday unveil three new satellites and another satellite carrier, named Simorgh.
Exactly one year ago, Iran launched a domestically made satellite into orbit for the first time. It has said the launch of the Omid satellite was for peaceful telecommunications and research purposes.
Iran, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, says its nuclear program is solely to generate electricity, and Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday Iran was ready to send its enriched uranium abroad in exchange for nuclear fuel.
In December, Iran said it test-fired a long-range, upgraded Sejil 2 missile. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the time said the launch was of serious concern to the international community and underlined the case for tougher sanctions.
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