The launch comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018. February 2020: Iran attempts to launch a Zafar-1 satellite into orbit from the Imam Khomeini Space Center using a Simorgh space launch vehicle, a three-stage rocket that uses some technology similar to long-range ballistic missiles.

... "US has issued a TLE for a new launch 2020-024A, object 45529 in a 426 x 444 km x 59.8 deg orbit.

... Iran April 22, 2020.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it put the Islamic Republic's first military satellite into orbit, dramatically unveiling what experts described as a secret space program with a surprise launch Wednesday that came amid wider tensions with the United States. In this image taken from video, an Iranian rocket carrying a satellite is launched from an undisclosed site believed to be in Iran’s Semnan province Wednesday, April 22, 2020. ... was sent into orbit using a long-range rocket, according to a statement by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
Called Qassed, the two-stage rocket blasted off on Wednesday from an undisclosed location in “the central desert,” with the Noor 1 satellite on board. It remains to be seen whether the launch has been completely successful, although state media said the satellite reached an altitude of 425km..

Sunday's effort marked the fourth consecutive failure of an Iranian satellite launch most recently preceded by a launch on Jan. 15, 2019, in which the rocket launch …

The launch fails in the second or … In this photo released Wednesday, April 22, 2020, by Sepahnews, an Iranian rocket carrying a satellite is launched from an undisclosed site believed to be in Iran's Semnan province. As with Iran’s previous space launches, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo characterized the event as a “missile launch,” maintaining that these serve as a cover for ballistic missile development. It failed because of … In this image taken from video an Iranian rocket carrying a satellite is launched from Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran’s Semnan province, some 230 kilometers (145 miles) southeast of Iran’s capital, Tehran, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. Iran launches its 1st military satellite into orbit: reports. Iran launches first military satellite in latest show of force. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted a surprise launch on Wednesday in which it claims to have successfully placed a military satellite in orbit. The launch of a Simorgh rocket in Semnan Province, about 145 miles southeast of Tehran, sought to put a communications satellite into orbit.