An Israeli satellite that can reportedly spy closely on Iran's nuclear programme has sent back its first "high quality" pictures since its launch into space, public radio reported Friday.
Photographs from the D3 Eros B1 satellite with a 70-centimetre (28-inch inch) resolution were taken in orbit, 500 kilometres (310 miles) from earth and were transitted to the control room of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI).
The first pictures were taken over Europe and did not therefore feature installations in Iran, the radio reported.
Israel's satellite was launched from a military space launch site in Russia on Tuesday and circumnavigates earth every 90 minutes.
Israel considers the Islamic regime in Tehran its chief public enemy and has led international efforts to see Iran slapped with economic sanctions for its alleged nuclear weapons programme.
Security fears have been heightened in Israel by menacing comments from Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has dismissed the Holocaust as a "myth" and has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map".
Source: Agence France-Presse
