Iran says it has successfully launched a rocket, which carried a mouse, two turtles and worms into space.

There was no details on the research and the reports did not disclose when or where the launch took place.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday the space launch shows Iran can defeat the West in the battle of technology.

"The scientific arena is where we could defeat the (West's) domination," Ahmadinejad said in remarks broadcast live on state TV. He said the launch is a "very big event. "This is the first presence of animals in space launched by Iran. It's the start of bigger achievements" to come."

Iran said the launch is part of its space program. But world powers are worried, saying the same rocket technology could be used to deliver nuclear warheads.

Meanwhile in other developments, Iran said it will agree to send its uranium to other countries to be turned into nuclear fuel.

The goal is to keep Iran from creating fuel that can be used for a nuclear bomb. The Iranian government has flip-flopped on this issue before.