Iranian satellite launch alarms west

The US and its western allies expressed serious concern yesterday about Iran's growing mastery of ballistic missile technology after Tehran launched its first low-level satellite into space.

In a move that will raise worries in Israel and the west about Iran's nuclear ambitions, Tehran hailed the launch – designed to co- incide with the 30th anniversary of the Iranian revolution – as a big step forward.

Western defence experts said the launch could mark a new step in Iran acquiring reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering capability.

However, the US, Britain and France said their main concern was that Iran was acquiring technology that would allow it to project a long-range nuclear weapon, even if it insists it has no plans to do so.

A US state department official voiced “great concern” over the launch, saying Iran's work to put satellites into space could “possibly lead to the development of ballistic missiles”.

Bill Rammell, a UK foreign office minister said: “We think this sends the wrong signal to the international community, which has already passed five United Nations Security Council resolutions on Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.”

The development came as world powers were preparing to hold substantive discussions today on how they will move forward to stop Iran's uranium enrichment plans – a programme that the US, Britain and France believe is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon.

Iran's satellite launch is the first display of its rocket technology since Barack Obama became US president last month. His administration is reviewing its Iran policy and hoping to open a dialogue intended to convince Tehran to halt its nuclear programme.

Iran said the purpose of its satellite launch was purely peaceful. But at a time when it could be preparing for talks with the US, the launch might be intended to show that international pressure will not paralyse Iran.

Mark Fitzpatrick, an expert on Iranian military technology at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Tehran had scored a notable breakthrough last November with the launch of the Sajjil missile.

伊朗首枚低轨卫星发射升空后，美国及其西方盟国昨日对伊朗弹道导弹技术的不断进展表示严重关切。

伊朗此举将加剧以色列和西方国家对伊朗核野心的忧虑。此次发射在时机上是为了配合伊朗庆祝伊斯兰革命30周年，德黑兰方面将此次发射誉为向前迈进了一大步。

西方防务专家表示，此次发射可能标志着伊朗在掌握侦察和情报收集能力方面迈出新的一步。

不过，美国、英国和法国表示，它们主要担心的是，伊朗正在掌握的技术，将使其具备发射远程核武器的能力，即使伊朗坚称其无意这样做。

美国国务院一名官员对伊朗发射卫星表示“极大关切”，称伊朗将卫星送入太空的努力，“可能导致弹道导弹的开发”。

英国外交部部长级官员比尔·拉梅尔(Bill Rammell)说：“我们认为此举向国际社会发出了错误的信号，国际社会已就伊朗的核计划和弹道导弹计划，通过了五项联合国安理会决议。”

伊朗发射卫星的消息公布之际，适逢世界大国准备在今日举行实质性讨论，探讨如何采取进一步行动来制止伊朗的铀浓缩计划。美国、英国和法国相信，该计划的目标是发展核武器。

伊朗发射卫星，也是该国自巴拉克·奥巴马(Barack Obama)上月就任美国总统以来首次展示火箭技术。奥巴马政府正在仔细研究其对伊政策，希望开启对话，以说服伊朗政府停止其核计划。

伊朗表示，发射卫星完全出于和平目的。但在该国可能在准备与美国对话之际，此次发射或许意在表明：国际压力压不倒伊朗。

伦敦国际战略研究所(International Institute for Strategic Studies)伊朗军事技术专家马克·菲茨帕切克(Mark Fitzpatrick)表示，此前伊朗在去年11月成功发射“赛吉尔”(Sajjil)导弹，已经标志着该国实现了值得注意的突破。