On Sunday, Russia deployed three Iranian communications satellites into space, marking the second occasion since July that such a launch has occurred, as reported by Iranian state television.
According to the report, a Russian launch vehicle placed the satellites into a 500-kilometer orbital path around Earth from the Vostochny launch facility located in Russia’s eastern region. The trio of satellites carries the designations Paya, Kowsar, and Zafar-2.
Paya, with a mass of 150 kilograms, represents Iran’s heaviest satellite ever launched into space. Kowsar has a mass of 35 kilograms, though the report did not disclose Zafar-2’s weight specifications.
These satellites are equipped with imaging capabilities offering resolution of up to 3 meters, which can be utilized for overseeing water resource management, agricultural operations, and environmental monitoring. Their operational lifespan extends to approximately five years.
Moscow’s periodic launching of Iranian satellites underscores the robust relationship between the two nations. Previously in July, a Russian rocket successfully positioned Iran’s communications satellite Nahid-2 into orbit.
Following the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Iran in January, Russia issued strong condemnation of the Israeli and American military strikes against Iran during a 12-day aerial conflict in June that resulted in approximately 1,100 Iranian fatalities, including military leadership and nuclear researchers.
Iran responded with retaliatory missile strikes that killed 28 individuals in Israel.
Iran continues to pursue its long-term satellite program, periodically conducting launches to deploy its spacecraft into orbit.
The United States maintains that Iran’s satellite launch activities contravene a United Nations Security Council resolution and has urged Tehran to cease all operations involving ballistic missiles with nuclear weapon delivery capabilities. However, UN sanctions pertaining to Iran’s ballistic missile initiatives concluded in 2023.
