Iranian satellites achieved a major milestone on Sunday. Specifically, Tehran launched three domestically built spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The mission used a Russian Soyuz rocket and highlights the growing Iranian satellites program. Moreover, it deepens Iran-Russia cooperation in space.
The launch took place from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome. Consequently, Iranian officials described it as the country’s seventh satellite mission using Russian launch vehicles. Ambassador Kazem Jalali explained that Iranian scientists designed and built the satellites. Furthermore, both government agencies and private companies were involved.
Two satellites are government-owned. Meanwhile, one belongs to a private company. Jalali stressed that knowledge-based companies and universities are increasingly active in the field. Despite international pressure, Iran continues to advance its space program. In addition, officials insist it serves civilian and scientific purposes.
Hassan Salarieh, head of Iran’s space agency, said the launch places Iran among a small group of countries with full space capabilities. “Iran is among 10 or 11 countries that can design, build, and launch satellites while operating ground infrastructure,” he said. Furthermore, Iran aims to increase both the number and precision of its satellites.
The newly launched Iranian satellites include Paya, also called Tolou-3, Zafar-2, and Kowsar-1.5. Paya is Iran’s largest Earth-observation satellite. It weighs about 150 kilograms. Additionally, it can capture black-and-white images at five-meter resolution. Color images reach ten-meter resolution. As a result, it supports agriculture, water management, environmental monitoring, and disaster assessment.
Zafar-2, developed by Iran University of Science and Technology, focuses on mapping, environmental monitoring, and tracking natural hazards. Meanwhile, Kowsar-1.5 combines imaging with internet-of-things capabilities. It is primarily aimed at agriculture and farm monitoring. Jalali also noted that Russian cooperation contributed significantly to technological development and launch reliability.
Alongside Iranian satellites, the Soyuz mission deployed Russian Earth-observation satellites, internet-of-things platforms, and spacecraft from Belarus, Kuwait, and Montenegro. However, Western governments remain concerned that Iran’s satellite technology could overlap with missile systems. Nevertheless, Iran maintains the program’s civilian focus.
Looking ahead, Iran plans to expand its satellite fleet. In addition, officials aim to improve imaging quality and develop new satellite classes. These steps will support scientific research, economic development, and practical applications across multiple sectors. Overall, the successful launch of Iranian satellites highlights Tehran’s growing space expertise. Moreover, it marks a new phase in Iran-Russia collaboration in orbit.