Iran test fires rocket satellite carrier
Updated on 03 February 2010
As a satellite carrier is successfully fired President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he is ready to send uranium abroad, although Iran will enrich its own if the West does not return it.
Iranian state television reported today that a "Kavoshgar 3 satellite carrier" had been successfully test-fired. Three new satellites and a satellite carrier were also unveiled.
Western nations are concerned that the long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit can also be used to launch warheads, although Iran says it has no plans to do so.
In an interview with Iranian broadcaster IRIB President Ahmadinejad dismissed the US build up of a missile shield in the Persian Gulf.
US military officials said over the weekend that the build up - involving upgraded Patriot missiles on land and more US Navy ships capable of destroying missiles in flight - is intended to counter a potential Iranian missile strike on US allies.
"They have this dream to use it against us but their dream will never come true, because they have no way to do that and they know that there is no power in the world today to strike a blow against Iran," Mr Ahmadinejad said.
Nuclear enrichment
The president also said Iran was ready to send its uranium abroad for further enrichment as requested by the United Nations.
He said Iran will have "no problem" giving the West its low enriched uranium and taking it back several months later when it is enriched by 20 per cent.
The decision is a major shift in the Iranian position on the issue.
The president dismissed concerns that the West would not return the uranium, saying Iran would respond to that by continuing to produce its own enriched uranium.
"If they don't return it, what will happen? We will be proven right, and then it will be proven that the Agency (International Atomic Energy Agency) was not reliable and they will be discredited," he said.
The West suspects that Iran's nuclear programme is geared toward acquiring atomic weapons. Iran denies the charge and says the programme is for peaceful purposes.
