On 25 February, Iran announced to the world that it had launched a research rocket that attained a suborbital altitude, a test that appears to move the country closer toward its aim of putting indigenous satellites into space. Officials from the Iranian Aerospace Research Centre revealed the rocket was a 'sounding rocket' carrying atmosphere-testing equipment and rose 94 miles before falling back to earth by parachute. The officials insisted the launch was undertaken for scientific and research purposes, refuting news reports of a missile being launched into space. Iran has made similar peaceful claims for its atomic program, but Washington and others suspect the real aim is to acquire nuclear weapons and have sought to clamp down on Iran's nuclear facilities.

It needs be mentioned that the cargo carried into orbit was manufactured jointly by the Aerospace Research Centre and by the Ministry of Defence. Given the Ministry's involvement, a test rocket capable of reaching greater altitudes would have been significant not only for Iran's effort to put satellites into orbit, but also for developing a transcontinental ballistic missile. Strategically, Iran's ambitions in space aim not only to show off technological abilities, but also to monitor its neighbourhood - where the United States has hundreds of thousands of troops - and establish itself as a regional superpower. Iranian officials have previously pointed to America's use of space technology to monitor Afghanistan and Iraq before invading them and say they need similar abilities for their country's security. Israel, the US and their allies are therefore concerned about the military applications of Iran's space programme.

Defense Minister Mohammad Najar declared the manufacturing of satellites, launchers, creating missile test centers and expanding its infrastructure and training personnel to be among the Ministry's strategies. Although the motives behind such strategies are suspect, Iran maintains that it needs to launch four more satellites to expand the reach of its telecommunications network, in a bid to become a technologically advanced nation. In addition, Iran's entry into space using an indigenously-developed system would provide the country with an unprecedented amount of national pride, further legitimising the present leadership's policies.

It is no secret that the head of the integrated Iranian National Space Agency is the President of the Republic. Iran's space endeavor and alleged cooperation with 'rogue' countries that cloak their long-range ballistic missile programmes behind so-called civil space projects therefore raise disturbing questions. The approach is similar to that employed by China, North Korea, and Pakistan all of whom have used a civil space program to clandestinely manufacture longer-range missiles in the interests of national security.

The United Nations Security Council had passed a resolution on 23 December 2006 imposing an international ban on trade of goods or technology related to Iran's nuclear and missile programme. Following Iran's refusal to comply with the two-month deadline in the resolution to suspend its uranium enrichment program, the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council met in London on 26 February 2007 to discuss possible further sanctions. No doubt this latest incident would have been taken into consideration during the deliberations. One can argue with a certain degree of confidence that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair may well deem this latest Iranian venture as an indication of Iran's belligerent intentions - perhaps the test was an attempt at improving Iran's Shahab-3 and Shahab-4 missiles - and view it as another building block to move Iran's disputed nuclear program forward.

With US military officials stepping-up accusations (and providing alleged 'evidence') of direct Iranian involvement in the insurgency in Iraq, Iran's latest rocket venture is untimely. At the centre of the nuclear crisis lies Washington's fear of an Iranian nuclear weapon being used against Israeli or US forces in the region, such as the American air base at Incirlik in Turkey. Iran, it must be recalled, had successfully tested a Fajr-3 missile (in 2006) with the ability to reach Israel, avoiding radar and hitting several targets using multiple warheads. Just days prior to the 25 February test, Gen Henry Obering, Director of the US Missile Defense Agency, alluded to Iran's rapid progress in space-related activity arguing that Iran would possess the ability to launch ICBMs following the successful launch of a space vehicle. Subsequently, even if the motive behind the rocket test is, as is claimed by Iranian officials, peaceful, the international community will view it with considerable caution.

Iran's space programme and its efforts to develop long-range missiles have yet to generate sufficient global concern on account of its hitherto low-profile status. If, however, Iran continues to make strategic mistakes, such as ignoring demands by the UN or future resolutions, or more importantly undertake space or missile related activities that may escalate Western fears, then Washington and London might consider military action in order to bring an end to the crisis.