AFP, Aug 17, 2008 (excerpts) – The White House said Sunday that Iran’s announcement it had launched a home-built rocket into space was “troubling” because such technology could also be used for ballistic missiles.

“The Iranian development and testing of rockets is troubling and raises further questions about their intentions,” spokesman Gordon Johndroe said as US President George W. Bush spent time on his Texas ranch.

“This action and dual use possibilities for their ballistic missile program are inconsistent with their UN Security Council obligations,” said Johndroe.

He spoke after Tehran said it had sent a home-built rocket carrying a dummy satellite into space on Sunday, in a move that could further exacerbate tensions with the West over its nuclear drive.

“The Safir (Ambassador) rocket was successfully launched. All its systems … are Iranian made,” Reza Taghipour, head of Iran’s space agency, told state television, adding that a “test satellite was put into orbit.”