Iran Conducts Space Launch with Heaviest Payload, Raising International Concerns

The launch of the Simorgh rocket showcases Iran's advancing aerospace capabilities, with Western nations warning of potential military applications.

Iran successfully launched its heaviest-ever payload, weighing 660 pounds, using the domestically developed Simorgh rocket.
The payload included an orbital propulsion system and two research devices, enabling satellite orbit adjustments, a key step toward geosynchronous positioning.
The launch comes as Western nations express concerns that Iran's space program could accelerate the development of intercontinental ballistic missile technology.
The United States and European governments have criticized Iran's space efforts, citing expired UN Security Council resolutions discouraging ballistic missile-related activities.
Iran maintains that its space program is for civilian purposes, though the IAEA has reported Tehran possesses enriched uranium sufficient for multiple nuclear weapons if further developed.