Russia launches two Iranian satellites into orbit as ties grow
The launch from Russia is the latest sign of the growing ties between Tehran and Moscow in a range of sectors.
Two Iranian satellites were launched into orbit from a Russian station on Tuesday in the latest sign of growing cooperation between Tehran and Moscow.
The two domestically manufactured Kowsar and Hodhod satellites successfully took off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome spaceport in eastern Russia using a Russian Soyuz satellite launcher, Iranian state television reported.
The Soyuz rocket also carried two Russian Ionosphere-M Earth observation satellites and several dozen smaller satellites, including the two Iranian ones.
The Kowsar, designed for land observation, and the Hodhod communications satellite were built by the Iranian private space company Omid Faza in Tehran.
This marks a significant milestone for Iran's space program, as it is the first private sector-developed satellite launch.
In September, Iran successfully launched the Chamran 1 research satellite, which was developed by the space division of Iran Electronics Industries, a state-owned subsidiary of the Iranian Ministry of Defense. According to the Associated Press, the launch took place from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launchpad near the city of Shahroud, about 350 kilometers (215 miles) east of Tehran.
Earlier in February, Russia launched the Iranian Pars-1 satellite manufactured by the Iran Space Research Institute, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.
In August 2022, a Russian Soyuz satellite carrier rocket took another Iranian satellite called Khayyam and built in Russia into space from Kazakhstan's Baikonur space station.
Tuesday’s launch comes despite Western sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine and Iran over its nuclear program.
The two countries have strengthened their ties in a variety of fields, including in the economic and military sectors, as they seek to break their growing political isolation by the West.
Iran is believed to have sent hundreds of Shahed drones to Russia under a $1.7 billion deal signed in late 2022. Western countries including the United States have accused Russia of using these drones in Ukraine.
Tehran has also purchased Russian weapons systems in the past. In late September, Iran announced it had finalized a deal to purchase Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 jet trainer aircraft from Russia. While the Yak-130s have been reportedly delivered to the Islamic Republic, it remains unclear whether any of the other aircraft have as well.
On the political level, Iranian-Russian relations have deepened as the two countries converge on several regional issues including in Syria, where both sides have backed President Bashar al-Assad against the rebels throughout the country’s civil war.
Russian and Iranian officials have exchanged several visits in the past months amid growing tensions between Israel and Iran that risk spiraling into a full-blown regional conflict.
