Some folks think that Iran's recent missile launches may have a military goal. According to the article, the intent may be to develop long range ballistic missile capabilities, or trying to launch military satellites.

I read an AP news release about an alleged Iranian Shahab-4 rocket that was launched into space. I have not seen any confirmation from international sources that the are tracking, or have tracked the launch. Further, several sources stated that the launch was sub-orbital and not into space. (BBC, ABC)
Iran's state media says, and the head of Iran's aerospace program have said that the launch was for research purposes. Evidently, Iran wants to start sending it's own satellites into space. Currently Iran works with the Russians to send satellites into orbit. Iran wants to have 4 satellites in space by 2010 for land and mobile phones. They also want 12 transponder satellites for internet and communications systems.