Space Force General Trolls Iran After Successful Military Satellite Launch

KEY POINTS

Iran launched its first military satellite
Tension has been growing between U.S. and Iran
A Space Force general made fun of Iran's satellite launch

A general in the U.S. Space Force downplayed Iran’s success in launching its first military satellite into orbit. In a recent tweet, the military official referred to Iran’s satellite as a “webcam in space.”

On April 22, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corp claimed that it was able to successfully deploy a military satellite into space. Dubbed as Nour, the satellite was reportedly launched through a rocket known as Messenger.

The launch took place after Iran and the U.S. had a heated encounter in the Persian Gulf on April 15. During the incident, about a dozen Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels harassed six U.S. warships patrolling in the area.

The incident prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to order the U.S. Navy to use force against Iranian vessels that harass U.S. ships.

The heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. this year stems from the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in January. He was killed during an airstrike ordered by Trump.

Due to the increasing tension, the U.S. is worried that Iran’s successful satellite launch would lead spearhead the country’s military actions in space. According to reports, Iran could use its military satellites to spy on the other satellites of other countries.

“Today, the world’s powerful armies do not have a comprehensive defense plan without being in space, and achieving this superior technology that takes us into space and expands the realm of our abilities is a strategic achievement,” Iranian General Hossein Salami said, according to MilitaryTimes.

@US_SpaceCom continues to track 2 objects @PeteAFB’s @18SPCS associated w/#space launch from Iran, characterizing NOUR 01(#SATCAT 45529) as 3U Cubesat. Iran states it has imaging capabilities—actually, it’s a tumbling webcam in space; unlikely providing intel. #spaceishard
— Gen. Jay Raymond (@SpaceForceCSO) April 25, 2020

General Jay Raymond of the U.S. Space Force, however, doesn’t seem to be worried about Iran’s new space capabilities. Through a recent tweet, the military official downplayed the success of Iran and poked fun at the country’s first military satellite.

In response to Iran’s claims that the Nour satellite has imaging capabilities, Raymond referred to it as a “tumbling webcam in space.” The general then topped off his tweet with the hashtag #spaceishard.

Despite Raymond’s humorous message, the general indicated in his tweet that the U.S. Space Force is closely monitoring Iran’s first satellite. This means that the military department is taking the matter seriously.