VIVAnews - It is believed that the anxiety that a handful of countries showed over Iran's space technology is groundless. Earlier this week, Feb 2, Iran launched its first satellite named Ovid (literally "hope").
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Indonesia, Behrooz Kamalvandi, said that the worry was groundless yet excessive.
"In fact, it is clear that the satellite launch is aimed at research and help the life of Iran's civilians," Kamalvandi told VIVAnews on Thursday, Feb 5.
The progress in Iran's technology has provided additional power to the country. Kamalvandi viewed that it was normal if Iran's achievement was disliked. "However, it is not our problem," said the diplomat.
In the next two months, Iran is also planning to launch the second satellite. According to Kamalvandi, the next satellite will complete the current research so that Iran may launch stronger and more efficient a satellite in the near future.
"There will certainly be other satellites. Omid will not be the only satellite orbiting," said the father of four children.
VIVAnews reporter Shinta Eka Puspasari interviewed the Iranian diplomat at the interval of an International Seminar entitled "Religion in Contemporary World" in Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta, on Thursday, Feb 5.
How did you respond over the sharp reaction the Western countries showed concerning the launching of Omid satellite?
I have no idea. Their reaction is a result of sceptical mentality and way of thinking. In fact, it is clear that the satellite launch is aimed at helping the Iranians on civil and environmental issues as well as research.
This has surely encouraged Iran. Every achievement in science is always encouraging and your enemies will be against it. It is also a similar situation in Indonesia; you may like it, or you may not. If there is a country who dislikes you, it is their problem.
Is there any plan to launch another satellite?
There will surely be another satellite launch in the next two months. It will be [launched] in the Iranian new year.
What is the purpose of the launching?
It will be to continue the research and complete the research chains so that we are capable of launching more effective and stronger satellites. Omid's orbit is close to the announced plan of a 250-350 km altitude from the earth's atmosphere. The next satellite will certainly explore the outer space further.
There will certainly be another satellite. Omid will not be the only Iranian satellite launched into orbit.
How will Iran respond over the plan of the United States and its allies to grant incentives under the condition that Iran ceases its uranium program?
We have stated earlier that there is no reason for Iran to stop its uranium program. They would also ask Indonesia to stop its uranium enrichment program if the country sets out the program.
In fact, they do not have any rights to force other countries forget the civil rights. It is stated that we also have the rights to use the energy for peace.
The question is that how do you show that the program that your country prepares aims for peace? There is a mechanism from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). They have deployed many inspectors. We have received more than 3,000 reports and none of them indicates that we are processing uranium for military purposes.
The problem is that there are various countries that do not want other countries gain more power. They want the countries to depend on them. Prior to the Iranian Revolution, we imported medicines from Western countries. Now, we are ready to export medicines. In Iran, we manage to go through complicated operation such as heart transplants.
What hope does Iran have over the new US leadership under Barack Obama administration?
We are still waiting [Obama] to take real measures.
In the past few days, Obama said he wanted to fix the relationship between the United States and Iran. How did Iran respond over the issue?
We are surely ready [to fix the relationship] if they intend to proceed with it.
Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono
