Iran
has launched a home-made missile capable of reaching space, Iran's state television Web site reported on Sunday, quoting an Iranian aerospace official.
The comments came a day after Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said the Islamic Republic was planning to build a satellite and launcher.
Iran launched its Sina-1 satellite into orbit from a Russian rocket on 2005 and has previously said it planned to modify its Shahab-3 missile to launch satellites.
"Iran has successfully launched its first space missile made by Iranian scientists," the head of Iran's aeropsace research center, named only as Dr Bahrami, was quoted as saying.
He said the missile was built by the aerospace center with the cooperation of the Defense and Science Ministries, but gave no further details.
The defense minister was quoted as saying by a newspaper as saying: "Building a satellite and satellite launcher, as well as (previously) launching the first Iranian satellite called Sina with Russian cooperation, and becoming a member of the space club, are part of the Defense Ministry's plans."
The daily Etemad-e Melli said the minister made the comments on Saturday.
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