{"id":259696,"date":"2026-08-22T00:43:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T00:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/259696\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T00:43:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T00:43:11","slug":"us-weaponization-of-space-could-fuel-space-arms-race-iran-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/259696\/","title":{"rendered":"US weaponization of space could fuel space arms race, Iran claims"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States’ efforts to weaponize space<\/a> threaten to accelerate the proliferation of space weaponization, Ali Bahreini, the Islamic Republic\u2019s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, told the Conference on Disarmament on August 10, Iran International reported Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe development of US military and offensive space capabilities could push other countries to develop counter-capabilities and intensify the arms race in space,\u201d Ali Bahreini said.<\/p>\n

The warning comes as Iran continues to expand its own capabilities in space.<\/p>\n

A Jerusalem Post report from July detailed Iran\u2019s efforts to expand its space program, including the development of space infrastructure, satellites, and satellite data and imagery services, citing Iranian Space Agency<\/a> head Hassan Salarieh.<\/p>\n

Salarieh said Iran plans to open new space facilities in the coming months, including the Chabahar launch site, while expanding its satellite network and developing its first domestically produced radar satellite.<\/p>\n

\"DELIVEREDDELIVERED TO the IDF late last year, the Iron Beam system marks a historic milestone \u2013 the world\u2019s first operational laser defense platform capable of neutralizing rockets, drones, and mortars at a fraction of the cost of traditional interceptors. (credit: The Defense Ministry\/Handout via REUTERS)<\/p>\n

Iran is also looking to pair satellite imagery with artificial intelligence for civilian uses, while developing communications satellites intended to strengthen the country\u2019s infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Israel makes space a top priority<\/p>\n

Israel has also made it a priority to become a leading player in the growing competition over military capabilities in space.<\/p>\n

In June, the Post\u2019s Yonah Jeremy Bob reported that IDF Technology and Digital Chief Brig.-Gen. Yael Grosman<\/a> said in an exclusive interview that the military was accelerating its push into space as it prepares for the challenges of future warfare.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a data revolution. We need to bring data and capabilities that the IDF needs everywhere, not just regarding the war that was, but the war that will be,” Grosman said. “This means we need to be organized differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grosman also said Israel understands it cannot compete effectively on future battlefields without developing robust space capabilities to support the IDF\u2019s growing data and intelligence needs.<\/p>\n

Referring to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir\u2019s five-year plan, unveiled in January and highlighting space as a priority, Grosman said, \u201cThe IDF chief said we cannot ignore space.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are receiving lots of energy and resources to pursue our interests in space since his declaration,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n

Defense Minister Katz announces new space-based laser capabilities<\/p>\n

Jeremy Bob also reported in June that Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel was working to develop space-based lasers<\/a> capable of carrying out attacks from above Earth.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the central goals that the prime minister and I set is that we are recruiting the best minds,\u201d Katz said in a briefing with military reporters. \u201cAs of today, no country has the ability to mount attacks in space. We must be the leading country in the world with this capability.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we achieve this, it will ensure the advantage of deterrence, of the ability to attack, destroy, and all of the other matters, versus our enemies with large resources,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Israel has already made significant advances in laser technology, including the development of Iron Beam, a ground-based laser air-defense system. The Post has also witnessed and received briefings on an Elbit Systems project aimed at eventually enabling fighter jets to fire lasers.<\/p>\n

One of Israel\u2019s primary concerns is that Iran or another adversary could gain an advantage in the military space race and develop the ability to target Israeli satellites. Such capabilities could threaten Israel\u2019s space-based intelligence and surveillance systems and reduce the IDF\u2019s ability to monitor its enemies.<\/p>\n

Amit Avitan and Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The United States’ efforts to weaponize space threaten to accelerate the proliferation of space weaponization, Ali Bahreini, the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":259697,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[33],"tags":[423,34,1754,37,99,13349,20865,5880],"class_list":["post-259696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-israel","tag-idf","tag-iran","tag-iron-beam","tag-israel","tag-israel-katz","tag-laser","tag-laser-defense-system","tag-space"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@iran\/117136392701241108","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=259696"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259696\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/259697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}