Iran said on Sunday (28) that it had placed three satellites into orbit from Russia, a move that could intensify tensions surrounding Tehran’s broader actions.
The Paya, Zafar-2 and Kowsar satellites were launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the remote Russian Far East, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported. According to the agency, the equipment will orbit at around 500 kilometers of altitude and was designed for a series of environmental and agricultural applications.
Chief among them is Paya, described in the report as the heaviest and most advanced imaging satellite ever developed domestically by Iran. IRNA said the equipment was developed by Iran Electronics Industries, a subsidiary of the Defense Ministry.
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Iran’s space program and related entities have been targeted by United States sanctions for alleged links to Tehran’s ballistic missile program.
The launch comes amid concerns about Iran’s nuclear and missile activities and on the eve of a meeting on Monday (29) between United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At the meeting, they can discuss possible new attacks against Iran due to its ballistic missile program and the reconstruction of nuclear facilities hit by the US in June.
Moscow has assisted Iran’s satellite program for two decades. In July, Iran’s Nahid-2 satellite was launched into space by Russia to bolster the country’s navigation and telecommunications systems, according to state media. An earlier version of Kowsar had been launched from Russia in November 2024.
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