Iran starts countdown for satellite launch 'within hours'

Iran started counting down Sunday to launch of a new scientific observation satellite scheduled within hours, country's telecommunications minister said.

United States has raised concerns in past about Iran's satellite programme, describing launch of a carrier rocket in January 2019 as a "provocation".

"Beginning countdown to launch #Zafar_Satellite in next few hours... In Name of God," Mohamm Jav Azari Jahromi wrote on Twitter.

On February 1, he of Iran's ncy said 113-kilogramme Zafar -- Victory in Farsi -- would be launched into orbit 530 kilometres (329 miles) above Earth by a Simorgh rocket.

Its "primary mission" would be collecting imry, Morteza Berari told AFP, ding that Iran needed such data to study earthquakes, deal with natural disasters and develop its agriculture.

In January 2019, Tehran anunced that its Payam -- Mess in Farsi -- satellite h failed to reach orbit, after authorities said y launched it to collect data on environment in Iran.

US said launch of carrier rocket was a violation of a 2015 UN Security Council resolution which endorsed an international accord on curbing Tehran's nuclear programme.

Resolution 2231 called on Iran to refrain from any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

Iran maintains it has intention of acquiring nuclear weapons, and says its aero activities are peaceful and do t violate security council resolution.

Tehran confirmed in September that an explosion occurred at one of its satellite launch ps due to a technical fault, and slammed US President Donald Trump for "gleefully" tweeting about it.

Replying to a tweet that asked what if Zafar fails like it predecessor, Jahromi said "we will try again".

Iran's internet services have faced cyber attacks for past two days, according to ministry. Officials have t elaborated on source of attack or its likely motives.