The second test launch of its indigenously-developed satellite carrier Zuljanah was announced by Iran on Sunday.
The launch was sub-orbital with “pre-determined research objectives,” Defense Ministry spokesperson Seyed Ahmad Hosseini said in a statement.
The three-stage carrier has two stages of solid propulsion and one stage of liquid propulsion and is “technically competitive” with the world’s top satellite carriers, the spokesperson stated.
As cited by state media, the launch was hailed by Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami as a “breakthrough” that he said proved Iran’s “scientific power.”
The launch comes less than two weeks after the ministry spokesperson announced plans to carry out two more launches of the satellite carrier that runs on a hybrid fuel.
The latest launch comes a day after Iran and the European Union agreed to break a three-month deadlock in talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.
The new round of talks which will be mediated by the EU is likely to resume in the coming days between Washington and Tehran.
