Intercontinental Ballistic Missile or Space Program Development: Is Iran using a tactical approach?
Development in the space program is a good idea. Many countries are engaged in this field. Conquering space is one of the strengths of any country, and it will be strong in the future as well. However, the motive of a country engaged in space program development must be evaluated, especially when a country like Iran is involved.
Iran has many unmet ambitions for regional sole power and superiority. It has been facing sanctions for years, and the US has canceled the nuclear deal. Despite these facts, Iran is engaged in different activities and efforts to destabilize the peace of the region and the world. Its involvement in Syria and Yemen is only an example, but it wants to do is undefeatable through the nuclear program. Moreover, intercontinental ballistic missile or ICBM is one of its dreams which have not come true yet. Through intercontinental ballistic missile, Iran has been developing desires to be a power to attack any country. In this context, Iran’s space development program to launch space launch vehicles should be seen as a threat. This threat becomes more prominent when the technology used in space launch vehicles is virtually similar to ICBMs.
The world had got attention to this important development from Iran when the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo highlighted these aims of Iran. An open-source researcher Fabian Hinz also indicated that he had observed some prelaunch indicators before the January 14 launch of a satellite to space. The launch of a satellite to space failed, but it revealed ambitious plans of Iran to endanger the peace of the world. It is vital to evaluate the statement made by Secretary Pompeo, who considered space program development technology same as an ICBM. It is partially true that both have virtually the same technology. Iran’s rocket and missile program are based on Soviet Scud-B technology, and this technology has been used by many countries to develop their missile programs. However, Iran has not been successful in turning this technology to be used in ICBM. So the question arises here that whether Iran is working on the development of intercontinental ballistic missile?
Apparently, for at least present time, Iran has not reached the point where it can use the technology to develop a space program for developing an ICBM. The space development program of Iran is using older technology, and there is not any solid evidence to use the technology for developing ICBM. However, it would be vital for the world to track the space development program of Iran along with its nuclear or missile development programs. The world has a precedent where countries have used the technology of space development in long-range missile programs, and Iran can follow that precedent. For instance, Iran has used its short range, solid-fueled missiles for attacking targets in northern Iraq and eastern Syria. Therefore, Iran’s advancement in space development program should be critically looked, and its repercussions should be analyzed in an investigative manner. The peace of the world cannot be put in danger at any cost.
