TEHRAN, Iran - Iran has accomplished yet another satellite launch into space, using a rocket built by the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The launch, the second of its kind, raises concerns among Western nations who fear it will contribute to Tehran's ballistic missile program. While Iran declares the launch to be a success, independent confirmation is yet to be obtained.

Iranian state-run media released footage showing the rocket taking off from a mobile launcher. Expert analysis of the video indicates that the launch occurred at the Revolutionary Guard's launch pad near the city of Shahroud, situated about 215 miles east of Tehran.

The timing of the launch is notable, as tensions are already high in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Notably, as this conflict rages on, Iran conducted an unprecedented direct missile-and-drone attack on Israel. Additionally, Iran's continued enrichment of uranium to almost weapons-grade levels has raised concerns among nonproliferation experts regarding Tehran's nuclear program.

Iran has identified the rocket used for the satellite launch as the Qaem-100, previously utilized in another successful launch in January. The rocket, which features a Quranic verse inscription that translates to "That which is left by Allah is better for you, if you are believers," is a solid-fueled, three-stage system. It successfully placed the Chamran-1 satellite, weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds), into a 550-kilometer (340-mile) orbit, according to state media.

The satellite was developed by a state-owned subsidiary of Iran's Defense Ministry and experts at the Aerospace Research Institute. Its purpose is to test hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology validation, although further details were not provided by state media.

Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Revolutionary Guard, lauded the launch, emphasizing that Iranian scientists had triumphed over the "extensive and oppressive international sanctions." In response to the Iranian launch, the U.S. State Department and American military have yet to make official statements.

It is worth noting that Iran's satellite launches are seen by the United States as a violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution. The U.S. has urged Tehran to refrain from any activity involving ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Though related UN sanctions regarding Iran's ballistic missile program expired last year, concerns persist.

Under former President Hassan Rouhani, Iran's space program experienced a slowdown to avoid further escalating tensions with Western countries. However, President Ebrahim Raisi, who assumed office in 2021, has shown a determination to advance the program. It remains unclear how the new reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian will approach the issue, as he did not discuss it during his campaign.

The U.S. intelligence community's worldwide threat assessment this year highlighted Iran's development of satellite launch vehicles, warning that it could potentially shorten the timeline necessary for Iran to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile, as the technologies share similarities. Intercontinental ballistic missiles have the capability of delivering nuclear weapons, and concerns have been raised as Iran continues to produce uranium close to weapons-grade levels.

Iran has consistently denied allegations of seeking nuclear weapons, maintaining that its space program, like its nuclear activities, is solely for peaceful purposes. However, both U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency have claimed that Iran had a military nuclear program until 2003.

Additionally, the timing of the satellite launch coincides with the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old whose tragic passing acted as a catalyst for nationwide protests against Iran's mandatory headscarf law and the country's Shiite theocracy.