Russia successfully launched three Iranian satellites into orbit on Sunday, marking a significant step in the deepening technological and military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. The launch, which took place at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far-eastern Amur region, utilized a Soyuz-2.1b rocket to deliver the payloads into a 500-kilometer orbit.
The three satellites, named Paya, Kowsar, and Zafar-2, are designed for high-resolution imaging and communications. Iranian state media highlighted that the Paya satellite, weighing 150 kilograms, represents the heaviest satellite the country has ever successfully deployed. The Kowsar satellite weighs 35 kilograms, though specific technical details regarding the weight of the Zafar-2 were not disclosed. These devices are equipped with sensors capable of providing 3-meter resolution images, which Tehran says will be used for environmental monitoring, agriculture, and water resource management.
This mission follows a previous joint launch in July and underscores a burgeoning “strategic partnership” formally signed between the two nations in January. Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Western officials have monitored the relationship closely, accusing Tehran of supplying Russia with drones and missiles for use in the conflict—claims that Iran continues to deny.
The United States has expressed concern over these launches, asserting that they violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. U.S. officials argue that the technology used in satellite launches is interchangeable with that of ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Despite international pressure and sanctions, Iran remains one of approximately a dozen nations globally with the indigenous capability to design and launch its own satellites.
