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Iran Plans to Carry Out New Satellite Launch Soon - Reports

© AP Photo / Iranian Defense MinistryIslamic Republic of Iran satellite launch
Islamic Republic of Iran satellite launch - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Tehran is planning to carry out a new satellite launch in the near future, IRNA reported on Wednesday, citing Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami, just one week after the country failed to launch its Payam satellite into orbit.

Following a cabinet session, Hatami confirmed to reporters that the launch, which Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced last week, would take place soon, according to the IRNA news agency.

Hatami specified that the satellite would be launched by the Safir expendable launch vehicle, which is capable of putting satellites into 260-kilometre (16-mile) orbits.

The minister emphasized that Iran was constantly improving its capacities in satellite launches.

Earlier in January, Rouhani said that two domestically made satellites would be launched "in the coming days" despite the US claims that this would violate a UN Security Council resolution, which deals mostly with Tehran's nuclear program.

In this frame grab from Iranian state TV, a video, a rocket carrying a Payam satellite is launched at Imam Khomeini Space Center, a facility under the control of the country's Defense Ministry, in Semnan province, Iran, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. According to Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, the rocket failed to reach the necessary speed in the third stage of its launch. - Sputnik International
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However, Iran's attempt to launch the Payam satellite on January 15 was unsuccessful because the third stage of the launch rocket failed to gain enough momentum to reach orbit.

READ MORE: Iran Launches Satellite Despite Pompeo's Warning, But it Fails to Reach Orbit

The following day, Rouhani said that Iran would carry out a new satellite launch in the coming months as part of its space program, having resolved the "minor" problems.

Iran insists that the launches do not violate the UN Security Council resolutions and are part of the nation's space exploration program.

READ MORE: Iran Vows New Satellite Launch Despite US, French Opposition

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