DUBAI (Reuters), – Iran has launched a satellite rocket with three research instruments into space. This was revealed by a defense ministry spokesperson on Thursday. The indirect U.S.–Iran negotiations are taking place in Austria in an attempt to save a 2015 nuclear agreement.

He didn’t clarify whether or not the devices were in orbit.

Iran has one the largest missile programs in the Middle East. However, it has had several failures in satellite launches over the years because of technical problems.

Ahmad Hosseini, the spokesperson for Simorgh Satellite Carrier Rocket (whose name means “Phoenix”) had carried the research equipment to an altitude of approximately 470 km (295 miles). He declined to provide further details.

Hosseini declared that “the intended research objectives for this launch were accomplished,” in comments broadcast by state television. This was a preliminary launch. God will grant us an operational launch very soon.

Iranian state television showed video footage of what they claimed was the firing off of the launch vehicle.

According to reports, Thursday’s space launch was made as Washington and Tehran are holding indirect talks in Vienna. The aim is to salvage the Iran-US nuclear deal that Iran has reached with other world powers. This agreement was then abandoned by Donald Trump.

In 2019, the United States placed sanctions against Iran’s civil space agency, and two research organizations. They claimed they were used by Tehran to promote its ballistic missile program.

Tehran denies that this activity was used as a cover for missile-building.

Iran’s first satellite Omid, or Hope (or Hope), was launched in 2009. Its Rasad satellite (Observation) was also put into orbit in June 2011. Iran claimed in 2012 it successfully launched its third satellite domestically made, Navid (Promise) into orbit.

After several failed launches in previous months, Iran successfully launched its first satellite military into orbit on April 20, 2020.