Latest news with #IranianDefenseMinistry
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Iran's Rocket Launch Raises Alarm
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran has successfully conducted a test of its latest Qased satellite launch rocket, marking its first such trial since a ceasefire ended a 12-day war with Israel in June—a conflict that also saw U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear-linked sites. The rocket launch comes amid heightened scrutiny of Iran's missile program and rising security threats in the Middle East. Iran's state news agency described the launch as an effort to "assess some emerging new technologies" and improve the performance of future satellite systems. Newsweek has reached out to State Department and Iran's foreign ministry for comment. Why It Matters The test carries potential global ramifications, particularly for international efforts to monitor missile-related developments in Iran. By conducting a space launch so soon after a major conflict, Tehran has introduced a new variable into an already tense regional environment. Some Western governments have previously linked Iran's space program to ballistic missile advancement, and this latest test is expected to factor into ongoing diplomatic discussions, including those related to Iran's nuclear program. This photo released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, claims to show a rocket with a capsule carrying animals is launched from an undisclosed location into orbit, Iran. Iran said Wednesday... This photo released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, claims to show a rocket with a capsule carrying animals is launched from an undisclosed location into orbit, Iran. Iran said Wednesday it sent a capsule into orbit carrying animals as it prepares for human missions in coming years. More Iranian Defense Ministry/AP Photo What to Know The Qased rocket is a hybrid-fueled satellite carrier first launched in 2020 when it successfully deployed a military satellite. This latest test did not place a satellite into orbit but served to validate design improvements. According to Iran's IRNA news agency, it was aimed at testing new technologies that would improve the country's broader space capabilities. Rocket Deception? The Qased uses a combination of solid and liquid fuels, a design consistent with many ballistic missile systems. Though the government describes these efforts as civilian in nature, similar launches in the past have drawn sharp responses from Western nations. U.S. Republican Senator Tom Cotton dismissed Iran's launch as a deceptive cover for weapons development in a post on X. Iran's 'space program' is nothing more than a ridiculous charade designed to hide their efforts to develop long-range ballistic missiles to attack America and our allies. Don't be fooled by their — Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) July 22, 2025 Trump's Threat Meanwhile, President Donald Trump vowed to strike Iran's nuclear sites again "if necessary," renewing his demand that Tehran abandon its uranium enrichment program. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump referenced remarks made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who told Fox News that U.S. strikes on June 22 had "destroyed" key enrichment facilities. "Of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary!" Trump wrote, taking aim at earlier reports that had questioned the extent of the damage. President Donald Trump greets people during a reception for Republican members of Congress in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump greets people during a reception for Republican members of Congress in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo What People Are Saying IRNA news agency: "Assessing some emerging new technologies in the country's space industry." Sina Azodi, Assistant Professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs: "Not only is Iran enhancing its capabilities, but it is also sending a loud political message." Bradley Bowman, Senior Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies: "Increased ability to put systems in space will strengthen the regime's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for offensive and defensive operations, as well as provide a potential pathway to field an intercontinental ballistic missile." What Happens Next The Qased launch has added urgency to European efforts to resume stalled nuclear negotiations. The timing of the test is expected to factor into deliberations by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom over whether to trigger the UN "snapback" mechanism to restore sanctions. Those discussions are set to continue at talks scheduled for Friday in Istanbul.
9 News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- 9 News
Israel's unprecedented attack shows Iran has become a 'playground' for the Mossad
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Australian killed, another injured in Bali villa shooting incident Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had smuggled weapons into Iran ahead of the strikes, according to Israeli security officials, and would use the weapons to target Iran's defence from within. The officials said Israel established a base for launching explosive drones inside Iran, and the drones were later used to target missile launchers near Tehran. Military personnel stand near the flag-draped coffin of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh during his funeral in Tehran, Iran, in November 2020. (Iranian Defense Ministry/AP) Precision weapons were also smuggled in and used to target surface-to-air missile systems, clearing the way for Israel's Air Force to carry out more than 100 strikes with upward of 200 aircraft in the early hours of Friday local time. The plan to disable Iranian defences seems to have been effective; Israel said all of its aircraft returned safely from the first waves of strikes, appearing to show Israeli air superiority over parts of a country hundreds of miles away. Intelligence gathered by the Mossad in Iran also gave Israel's air force the ability to target senior Iranian commanders and scientists. In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian Defense Ministry, military personnel carry the flag draped coffin of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a scientist who was killed on Friday, in a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Monday, November 30. (AP) In an incredibly rare move, the Mossad released video from some of its operations, showing drones attacking what appear to be unsuspecting missile launchers. It is the latest operation to show how deeply Israel's intelligence services, including the Mossad, have penetrated some of Iran's most closely guarded secrets. The operations have made the Mossad appear a nearly unstoppable force in Iran, capable of hitting at some of its highest-ranking officials and most sensitive sites. "Mossad has treated Iran like its playground for years now," said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute and curator of the Iranist newsletter. "From assassinating top nuclear scientists to sabotaging Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel has proved time and time again that it has always had the upper hand in this shadow war that has now been playing out in the open since the first tit-for-tat strikes in April 2024." Firefighters and people clean up the scene of an explosion in a residence compound after Israel attacked Iran's capital Tehran, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) An Israeli security source said the latest operation required commando forces operating deep within Tehran and across the country while avoiding detection from Iran's security and intelligence agencies. The source said Mossad teams targeted air defence missiles, ballistic missiles, and missile launchers as the attack from the Israeli Air Force began. A second Israeli security source said the Mossad operations were years in the making, involving both intelligence-gathering efforts and the deployment of Mossad commandos deep behind enemy lines. Some of the Mossad commando forces operated in the Iranian capital itself, according to the security source. In addition to the drone base established by the Mossad long before Wednesday's attack, Mossad commandos deployed "precision-guided weapons systems" near Iranian missile air defence systems, which were activated at the same time as the Israeli air force began striking its targets. A second operation deployed sophisticated vehicle-mounted weaponry to target other Iranian defence systems. The Mossad operation also involved assassinations of top Iranian officials. Israel has shown – flaunted even – the Mossad's ability to operate with near impunity in Iran in the past. Starting in the early-2010s, Iran accused Israel of carrying out a campaign of assassinations against the country's nuclear scientists. Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran, Iran on Friday, June 13. (AP) Former Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon tacitly acknowledged the targeted killings when he said in 2015 that Israel cannot be held responsible "for the life expectancy of Iran's nuclear scientists." From 2007 to 2012 Israel allegedly carried out five covert assassinations, nearly all in Tehran, through remote-controlled bombings, or remote-controlled machine guns. Only one of Iran's key nuclear scientists survived the assassination attempt, Fereydoon Abbasi. Just last month, Abbasi told Iranian state media that any attack on production sites would have little impact on the timeline of developing a bomb, saying, "our capabilities are spread all over the country. If they target production sites, it will be inconsequential to our timetable, because our nuclear materials are not stored above ground for them to hit." Abbasi was one of the scientists killed in Israel's early morning attack in Tehran. The Mossad's actions soon became much more public. In early-2018, Israel stole Iran's nuclear archive from Tehran, displaying the intelligence coup in a live broadcast from Jerusalem. Speaking in English, Netanyahu showed off the archive, including what he said were copies of 55,000 pages of Iranian nuclear information and a display of discs he said were 55,000 files. Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel on Friday, June 13. (AP) Iran tried to dismiss Netanyahu's comments as "childish" and "laughable," but the plundering of the archive showed the confidence Israel had in the Mossad's ability to function in Tehran. The operation, which would have required extensive planning and an intimate knowledge of the archive's location and security, pushed the first Trump administration to withdraw from the original nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In November 2020, Israel assassinated Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran's chief nuclear scientist, while he was in a bulletproof car travelling with his wife. Fakhrizadeh's car was moving in a convoy with three security vehicles when he came under fire. Iranian state media said a remote-controlled machine gun opened fire on the nuclear scientist, who had been a long-time target for Israel. The operation, which Israel has not publicly acknowledged, was carried out with remarkable precision, and it displayed a deep knowledge of Fakhrizadeh's pattern of life. And yet despite its repeated inability to stop the Mossad, Iran has proven incapable of improving. Ram Ben Barak, the former deputy director of the Mossad, said the organisation's continued success is "due to a very, very disliked regime, even hated by most of the public, so this allows for intelligence penetration on one hand, and on the other, you have the sophistication and professionalism of the Israeli intelligence personnel." After the start of the war in Gaza, Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran. A source familiar with the matter said Israel planted an explosive device in a guest house where Haniyeh was known to stay. The bomb was concealed in the room for two months before the targeted killing and detonated remotely once Haniyeh was in the room. World Iran Israel Middle East CONTACT US Property News: The last inner Sydney suburbs where houses cost under $2m.
