TEHRAN, Dec28: Iran has taken another step in expanding its space capabilities with the successful launch of three domestically developed observation satellites from Russia, Iranian state media reported on Sunday, underscoring Tehran’s technological ambitions despite ongoing Western sanctions.
According to Iranian television, the satellites — Zafar-2, Paya and Kowsar 1.5 — were carried into orbit aboard a Soyuz rocket launched from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome. The launch marks one of a growing number of joint space-related activities between Iran and Russia.
The official IRNA news agency said the satellites were designed by Iran’s private sector and will be used for civilian observation purposes. Among them, Paya is described as Iran’s most advanced domestically produced imaging satellite to date, incorporating artificial intelligence to enhance image resolution. It is expected to support water resource management, environmental monitoring, and mapping projects.
Iranian media said the Soyuz launcher was selected for its reliability in transporting sensitive payloads into space. Tehran maintains that its aerospace programme is peaceful in nature and fully compliant with UN Security Council resolutions linked to its nuclear activities.
The launch comes amid closer political and strategic ties between Moscow and Tehran, which signed a strategic partnership agreement earlier this year. Russia has recently voiced strong opposition to Israeli and US strikes on Iran, while Iran has faced Western accusations of supplying drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict — claims Tehran denies are directed against Kyiv.
Iran has carried out around 10 satellite launches over the past two years, including a previous mission from the same Russian spaceport in July. While Western governments continue to express concern that satellite launch technologies could have potential military applications, Iranian authorities reject allegations that the programme is linked to ballistic missile development or nuclear weapons ambitions.