Iranian space officials say they plan to launch a manned spacecraft before 2021. The Islamic Republic launched its first-ever satellite into orbit this month.

The head of Iran's Aerospace Agency Reza Tagipur announced the plants on Tuesday. Ria Novosti news agency quote him as saying: “A successful Iranian manned spaceflight will be carried out before 2021.”

He added: “India [sic] and China were able to send their astronauts into space after 15 years of research and preparations. We will also go the same route, but believe we will achieve our goal in a shorter period.”

Vladimir Kremlev for RT. Click to enlarge

Meanwhile Iran’s Minister of Telecommunications Mohammad Soltani told journalists another seven satellites are being prepared for launch by Iran.

Iran carried out its first successful satellite space launch on February 2. Omid (Hope) was brought into a low Earth orbit by a domestic rocket Safir (Messenger).

Several countries including the U.S., Britain, Israel and France eye Iran’s space progress with suspicion. They say Tehran may be developing missile technology that may be weaponized and used for nuclear warhead delivery. Iran denies the allegations.

Charles Vick, a space expert at globalsecurity.org said:

“The balance of power in space is like everybody wants to follow the Jonses, Russia, the U.S., China and others for manned spaceflight, which is humanity ultimately going into space. That's the process we're watching. I'm not sure it's a balance of power issue that's going on. I think it's more to push the basic sciences, to push the basic technologies to drive one's national economy and to provide for one's national defense among other things.”