Russia successfully launched three satellites belonging to Iran into space. Reuters reported this on Sunday, December 28. According to the report, Iran’s “Kosar,” “Paya,” and “Zafar-2” satellites were sent into orbit from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East using a Soyuz launch vehicle.
The launch went according to plan, and the satellites were placed into low Earth orbit at an altitude of about 500 kilometers. This orbit is generally considered optimal for observation and data-gathering spacecraft.
Tehran officials said the satellites will be used to analyze environmental conditions in agriculture, monitor land resources, and detect natural disasters early. Through this, Iran aims to expand its ability to track climate change, water resources, and crop yields.
The dpa news agency notes that Iran has previously launched satellites into space several times. The country’s authorities consistently stress that the program is purely peaceful and has no military purpose.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, commenting on the launch, called it a “purely scientific mission.” He said Iran is only developing its technological capacity, and launching satellites is a natural part of that process.
At the same time, Israel and several Western countries, including the United States, view Iran’s space program with suspicion. They worry Tehran could use these technologies for military purposes, particularly to enhance its ballistic missile capabilities. Critics also point to the involvement of military structures such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran’s space projects.
As a result, this Russia-assisted launch is drawing significant interest not only scientifically but also geopolitically. On one hand, Iran emphasizes peaceful goals; on the other, Western states continue to closely monitor the move from a regional security perspective.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
Users of Меҳмон are not allowed to comment this publication.
