Western powers aren’t thrilled with Iran’s unveiling of what its government claimed were new surveillance powers — two satellites that bolster the country’s wireless connections and that take high-resolution photographs.
Western governments see the government’s space program as yet another pursuit of nuclear weaponry technology, Agence France-Presse reported.
Iran, however, insists its nuclear pursuits are purely peaceful in nature, as are its space ambitions.
Iran’s news agency, IRNA, named the satellites Khalije Fars, or Persian Gulf, and Tadbir, meaning “wisdom,” AFP reported.
“Tadbir was built by Tehran’s University of Science and Industry and is capable of conducting photographic assignments with a resolution of 100 meters,” IRNA said.
The news agency also reported that Tadbir is set to launch in the coming weeks.
Iran’s space plans include successfully launching a human into orbit by 2020.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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