Iran says it will be ready for new satellite launch in a few months

US and Europe have warned Tehran against such activity

President Hassan Rouhani delivering an address in the city of Gonbad-e Kavous, Golestan province, north-eastern Iran. EPA

Iran will be ready for a new satellite launch in a few months' time after a failed attempt this week, President Hassan Rouhani said, ignoring US and European warnings to avoid such activity.

Western officials say the missile technology used in such launches could be applied to delivering a nuclear weapon.

Iran's bid to send a satellite, named Payam, into orbit failed on Tuesday as its launching rocket did not reach adequate speed in its third stage.

Mr Rouhani on Wednesday was quoted by state media as saying, however, that Iran had "achieved great success in building satellites and launching them. That means we are on the right track. The remaining problems are minor, will be resolved in a few months, and we will soon be ready for a new launch," he said.

The United States warned Iran this month against undertaking three planned rocket launches that it said would violate a UN Security Council resolution because they use ballistic missile technology.

France's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the abortive launch and urged Iran to cease ballistic missile tests, which Paris sees as potential use for nuclear arms.

"The Iranian ballistic programme is a source of concern for the international community and France," ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said in a statement.

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"We call on Iran not to proceed with new ballistic missile tests designed to be able to carry nuclear weapons, including space launchers, and urge Iran to respect its obligations under all UN Security Council resolutions," Ms von der Muhll said.

Reacting to the French comments, the Iranian foreign ministry's spokesman said Iran’s satellite capabilities did not breach UN resolutions or any other international conventions since they "did not have a military nature."

"The Islamic Republic will choose a path that serves the nation’s long term and strategic interests, and will not sacrifice the scientific development of the country for baseless and fabricated concerns of foreign countries," Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Under the UN resolution enshrining Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, Tehran is “called upon” to refrain from work on ballistic missiles suitable for carrying nuclear weapons.

Some states say this phrasing does not make it an obligatory commitment. Iran has repeatedly said the ballistic missiles it is developing are purely defensive in purpose and not designed to carry nuclear warheads.

The nuclear deal is now at risk after President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from it, in part because it did not cover Iran's ballistic missile programme, and reimposed tough sanctions on Tehran.