Iranian state media report the Islamic republic has launched its second domestically built satellite.

Iran's Arabic language al-Alam television on Wednesday reported the launch and orbit of the satellite. It did not say when the liftoff took place.

The Iranian report says the satellite, known as Rassad 1 (Observation), will be used for transmitting images and weather forecasts.

In February 2009, Iran launched its first domestically-built spacecraft, a communications satellite known as Omid (Hope).

Tehran's ambitious space program has worried Western countries, which fear the same technology used to launch satellites could be used to launch nuclear warheads.

Iran says its space and nuclear programs are designed for peaceful uses.

Iranian media reported last year that three other satellites are in development: the Tolou (Dawn), Navid (Good News) and Mesbah-2 (Lantern).