Iran’s Revolutionary Guards tested a new satellite-carrying rocket on Saturday, state media reported, a development likely to anger the United States.

Washington fears the same long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also be used to launch nuclear warheads. Tehran has regularly denied having any such intention.

The Ghaem 100, Iran’s first three-stage launch vehicle, will be able to place satellites weighing 80 kg in an orbit of 500 km from the earth’s surface, IRNA said.

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