Italy dismisses participation in Iran satellite launch project

ROME. November 11. KAZINFORM. Italy's foreign ministry has dismissed media reports about the country's participation in the Iranian project to launch a low orbiting research satellite, the ANSA news agency has said; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

Gen. Mahdi Farahi, the head of Iran's Aero Space Industries told the Mehr News Agency on Tuesday that Italy would cooperate with Aerospace Industries Organization to send the 63.5-kg Mesbah (Lantern) satellite into space in 2011.

A spokesman for the Italian foreign ministry dismissed "any assistance from Italy to Iran in orbiting the satellite."

The satellite, with a lifespan of three years can gather information from various parts of the planet and transmit it back to Earth; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.