Iran's Launch of Military Satellite Complies With UNSC Resolution on Nuke Programme - Moscow

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched Iran’s first military satellite, Noor, into orbit by using a Qassed rocket. The US said it was keeping track of the satellite, also describing its launch as a "hostile" act by Tehran.

The launch of a military satellite by Tehran on Wednesday did not contradict the UN Security Council resolution on Iran's nuclear programme, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"This would not be the first time that a nation that has flagrantly breached the norms of international law and violated UNSC resolution 2231 is trying to deflect international condemnation by baselessly accusing Iran of incompliance with the requirements of the Security Council", Zakharova said.

The spokeswoman underlined that the resolution, as well as the JCPOA regulating the Iranian nuclear programme, in no way restricts Iran's rights and abilities to explore space for peaceful purposes.

Zakharova added that Iran is not developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

“There are no, there have never been, and hopefully there will never be nuclear weapons in Iran. Iran, adhering to the resolution, does not develop, test or use ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons, unlike the United States, which surprises the world every single day with news about plans to develop their nuclear missile capabilities", she said.

On Wednesday, the Iranian military said that its first military satellite, Noor - which means "light" in Farsi, had been successfully placed in orbit 425 kilometres (624 miles) above the Earth's surface using a Qassed carrier. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubted that the launch complied with UN resolutions.