Trump tweets photo of Iran rocket site and says US 'not involved' in failed launch; Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday posted on Twitter a photo of what appeared to be the site of a failed Iranian satellite launch, raising questions about whether he had disclosed U.S. surveillance secrets.
The black-and-white photo showed the fire-blasted launch site at a space center in northern Iran including a damaged gantry service tower and a downed mobile erector launcher.
Trump, in his tweet, cited the specific location of the site, saying the United States was not involved in the “catastrophic accident during final launch preparations for the Safir SLV Launch at Semnan Launch Site One in Iran.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House later on Friday, Trump defended his posting of the photo and reiterated that the United States had nothing to do with the incident.
“We had a photo. I released it, which I have the absolute right to do,” Trump said.
He claimed the Iranians “were going to set off a big missile and it didn’t work out too well. Had nothing to do with us.”
“I wish Iran best wishes and good luck in determining what happened at Site One,” Trump said in his tweet.
Patrick Eddington, a former CIA satellite imagery analyst, said the photograph tweeted by Trump appeared to be a classified image taken by a U.S. spy satellite.
The Pentagon did not have any immediate comment.
Tehran denies the U.S. accusation that such activity is a cover for ballistic missile development.
The Trump administration has ratcheted up economic pressure on Iran this year with economic sanctions to try to force it to renegotiate a pact reached with world powers in 2015 limiting its nuclear program. Trump withdrew the United States from the pact in May last year.
Trump has offered to hold talks with Iran but Tehran says first it must get relief from U.S. sanctions.
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