14 DAY TRIAL // The major concern of the Western countries related to the Iranian nuclear intentions were further fueled by today's launch of a "Kavosh 2" rocket, as reported by the national media. This is the latest in a series of evidence associated to the degree of advancement in their nuclear technology. Although the Iranian officials state that this is not a military action, it comes hot on the heels of an earlier November announcement according to which they had tested the launch of a next-gen surface to surface missile.
The previous launch was accompanied by a statement that said the Islamic Republic was well prepared for a self-defense action against all attackers. Recent speculations indicated a possible Israel or US attack on nuclear facility targets in Tehran (the capital city of the country), which are believed to be involved in a covert weaponry initiative, and this increased the tensions between the nations implicated. Still, officials claim the nuclear activities are carried in order to supply the nation's ever increasing demands for electricity.
No further details have been disclosed on television so far, on the promise they would be revealed later, although the national radio station announced that the "Kavosh 2" rocket (translated as "Explorer 2") "was launched to register and send correct environmental data and (to test) separation of the engine from the body," as Reuters quotes. But the same technology can easily be converted in order to carry and launch nuclear weaponry.
The worries were sparked globally this February, as Iran tested their own "Kavosh1" rocket as an early stage of their satellite program, claiming two further tests of that kind needed to be carried in the future, before actually placing an Iranian-made satellite in space. The initiative was deemed as "unfortunate" by the US, and Iran was warned that such actions would only separate it more from the rest of the world. A dummy satellite was placed in orbit in mid-August, according to the state's media, but the US said the mission failed to launch.