Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi’s renewed emphasis on space is already beginning to bear fruit. Since the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in more than 10 years last November, Iran has conducted three satellite launch attempts and revealed a new solid-fuel motor for space launch vehicles (SLVs). Many commentators see these activities purely through the lens of Iran’s ballistic missile development, but Iran has ambitious space launch goals that go far beyond developing rockets. A more comprehensive look at Iran’s space launch efforts and the challenges it will face in the years ahead gives a more nuanced picture of the military threats these activities may pose to the West in the future.

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Read the full report at Arms Control Wonk.