Iran launched a rocket with a satellite carrier bearing three devices into space, authorities announced Thursday.
It was not immediately clear whether any of the objects had entered Earth’s orbit. Authorities didn’t clarify when the launch happened or what devices the carrier brought with it.
Iranian state media aired footage of the blastoff on Thursday.
An eighth round of nuclear talks between Iran and world power started on Monday with a focus on Tehran’s fuel export and lifting of sanctions. The talks are expected to resume after the New Year’s holidays.
Negotiations to restore the deal known as the Joint Collective Plan of Action resumed in November. Washington was a party to the original agreement, but withdrew under president Donald Trump in 2018.
The US military did not directly comment on Thursday’s announcement from Iran. The State Department, however, said it remains concerned by Iran’s space launches, which it asserts “pose a significant proliferation concern” in regards to Tehran’s ballistic missile program.
