FNA - Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force�s Space Department Brigadier General Ali Jafarabadi said that Iran has long-term plans to send satellites into the 36,000-km orbit in the future.

Iran has plans to �increase the orbital altitude (of its satellites) and reach the 36,000-km altitude in the next few years�, General Jafarabadi said on Sunday.

He added that the altitude which is of strategic importance is special to telecommunication and TV satellites.

His remarks came as the IRGC launched the Satellite Noor-1 by the domestically-built launcher Qassed (herald) on Wednesday April 22 and placed it into the orbit at an altitude of 425km.

The Launcher Qassed is a three-stage launcher using compound soild-liquid fuel.

The satellite was sent to the space on the anniversary of the IRGC establishment (April 22, 1979).

IRGC Spokesman Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif said the IRGC�s satellite launch once again proved that the US sanctions have failed to hinder the country�s scientific progress.

�Following the launch, the Americans and Europeans admitted that the embargos have failed to interrupt the Islamic Republic�s scientific advancement,� Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif said late in April.

�When the country is capable of taking such measures under sanctions, it is also able to meet its people�s needs despite the economic terrorism imposed on them,� he added.

Ramezan Sharif thanked the Iranian scientists, officials, political figures, and the noble nation for their positive reactions to the satellite launch, stressing that the IRGC will continue its efforts on the course of developing and empowering Iran.