US confirms Iran launch of first home-built satellite

The US confirmed Tuesday that Iran has launched its first home-built satellite into orbit, raising fresh concerns in an international community already at odds with Tehran over its nuclear drive.

"It appears that the Iranians conducted a launch of a low orbit satellite," said a US official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.

A jubilant Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier announced the lift-off, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, on state television

"Dear Iranians, your children have put the first indigenous satellite into orbit," said Ahmadinejad.

"With this launch the Islamic Republic of Iran has officially achieved a presence in space." [snip]

Iran has pursued a space program for several years, and in October 2005 a Russian-made Iranian satellite named Sina-1 was put into orbit by a Russian rocket.

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