Iran's first space monitoring centre has US worried over its use for long-range missiles

Iran has announced setting up of its first space-monitoring centre in Delijan to track objects passing in the orbit overhead, which US fears may also be used to develop long-range missiles.

According to Washington Times, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that this facility, 150 miles south of Tehran, would help in tracking 'activities of the satellites' and also monitor remote areas.

Iran wants to send its own satellites in the orbit to monitor natural disasters in earthquake- prone nations, improve telecommunications and increase military surveillance in the region.

Defence Minister General Ahmed Vahidi said that this breakthrough in technology, which is basically aimed at space security of Iran, would also be shared with other countries.

Vahidi said that the centre, which would use radar, electro-optic and radio tracking, is aimed at securing country's space facilities, monitoring space objects and especially tracking satellites that pass overhead.

Iran has nine command and control ground stations for its space program, including one in Syria and the rest located mainly in the central and southern parts of the country, the report added.