Iran’s defence ministry announced what is said was the successful launch of “three research cargoes into the space” via a Simorgh rocket, asserting that “the intended research objectives of this launch were achieved” and noting: “This was done as a preliminary launch… we will have an operational launch soon”. The U.S. expressed “concern[] with Iran’s development of space launch vehicles, which pose a significant proliferation concern”. The following day, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson contended that “no [UNSC] resolution prevents the Islamic Republic of Iran from continuing its space program and the related experiments, including in the field of satellites-carriers”, while a defence official indicated that the payloads had been too slow to enter orbit.