The latest satellite images on Iran’s space center point to the fact that the country is developing long-range missile technology, Jane’s Information Group said in a report released on Friday. The images have shown that the launch site has the necessary features to transform it into a missile facility similar to those of North Korea.

The pictured that were the subject of a close study were obtained from Digital Globe’s QuickBird satellite on February 8. The site is situated 143 miles away from Teheran and it is the facility used to launch Kavoshgar 1 research rocket on February 4, as part of the space program, as the Iran officials called it.

Sending a rocket into space may have been a great achievement for the Iranian authorities, but it was a reason of concern for the rest of the world at the same time. The West could only assume that if Iran has the technology to send satellites into space, it most probably has the technology to launch weapons. And furthermore, the biggest reason to stay on high alert is that Iran is developing nuclear technology projects.

Iran is well known for the fact that it opposes Israel, which as President Ahmadinejad predicted, will demise sooner or later. The inauguration of the space center, international officials fear, could pose a danger to Iran’s “enemies”.

Jane’s Information Group said, as quoted by AFP: “Iranian statements claim that this recent launch was of a two-stage missile which would indicate a significant enhancement in Iran’s capabilities. However, closer inspection of the footage from the launch shows it to be a single-stage, liquid-propelled missile,” the report concluded.

Since the first images of the site, taken in 2004, Jane’s identified several changes that resemble the Taepodong facility in North Korea, which suggests that Iran’s space program is actually a cover-up for developing long-range missile technology, the report pointed out.

“This analysis suggests that Tehran is following the same path in its missile program as North Korea and identifies a previously unidentified location as an important element in it,” said Jane’s proliferation editor Avital Johanan, as quoted by the same source.

Iran’s technological advance creates controversy across the globe. Despite being accused of planning or owning the nuclear bomb, Iran denies using the technology for something else than to generate electricity and in other economic interests. However, they are well renowned for the fact that they never give specific details about any of their technological achievements, which leaves outside observers on a defensive stance.