US imposes sanctions on Iran space program

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on Iran's space program, saying that a recent explosion on a launch pad was a sign of missile work.

This handout image obtained August 30, 2019, courtesy of Satellite image ©2019 Maxar Technologies, shows close up view of a satellite image collected at 11:12 a.m., local time, on August 29 of failed Iranian rocket launch at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in Semnan, Iran. [Photo: SATELLITE IMAGE ©2019 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/AFP via VCG]

"The United States will not allow Iran to use its space launch program as cover to advance its ballistic missile programs," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

"Iran's August 29 attempt to launch a space launch vehicle underscores the urgency of the threat," he said.

Pompeo said that the United States was imposing sanctions on the Iran Space Agency as well as two affiliated research centers.

Under the orders, all US citizens or residents would be held criminally responsible for interacting with Iran's space program.

"These designations should serve as a warning to the international scientific community that collaborating with Iran's space program could contribute to Tehran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon delivery system.

In this image released by the US Air Force, RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned surveillance sits in a hangar on February 17, 2019, at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The Pentagon confirmed on June 20, 2019, that Iranian forces shot down a US naval surveillance drone but insisted the aircraft was in international air space, not that of Iran. [Photo: US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Tristan D. Viglianco/AFP via VCG]

President Donald Trump on Friday tweeted a high-resolution picture pointing to damage at a satellite launch pad and said the United States had nothing to do with it.

The tweet gathered wide attention not only for Trump's denial but due to speculation the president was taking to his favorite medium to show US intelligence that was likely classified.

While Trump focused on denying a role by the United States -- which has widely been reported to have used clandestine means to set back Iranian military development -- Pompeo said that the launch showed a threat from Iran.

Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei on Monday confirmed an explosion at a satellite launch pad in the north of the country and blamed a technical fault.