Iran strongly opposed to arms race in outer space

He made the remark in his meeting with the head of UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Simonetta Di Pippo in Vienna. 

In the meeting, the Iranian envoy placed special emphasis on the significance of international cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space environment among CUPUOS member states, and added, “small satellites play a very important role in the process of socioeconomic development in developing countries, therefore the Islamic Republic of Iran is strictly opposed to any restrictions on the design, construction, launch and use of small satellites.”

He then clarified the principled positions of Iran toward space activities and described space as the common heritage of humanity.

“Space should be used by UN member states merely for peaceful purposes and exploration," he said, adding "the Islamic Republic of Iran is against any arms race or deployment of any kind of weapons whether conventional or weapons of mass destruction in outer space."

He also seized this opportunity to express his thanks to the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs for organizing the first joint workshop between Iran and the United Nations in 2016 in Tehran with regard to the use of space technology to monitor dust storms and drought in the Middle East region.

Given the persistence of this environmental phenomenon in Iran and neighboring countries, it was proposed that the 2nd joint workshop under the same topic be held in Tehran. The proposal was approved in principle by UNOOSA director.

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