A Russian rocket successfully launched to put a pair of Iranian satellites into orbit, reflecting the growing co-operation between Moscow and Tehran, according to AP News.
The Soyuz rocket launched from Vostochny launchpad in far eastern Russia. It carried two Russian Ionosphere-M Earth observation satellites and several dozen smaller satellites, including two Iranian ones.
Two Iranian satellites, Kowsar and Hodhod, were the first to be launched on behalf of the country’s private sector. In 2022, a Russian rocket carried an Iranian Earth observation satellite called Khayyam. In February, Russia put another Iranian Pars-1 into orbit.
Tuesday’s launch came amid expanding ties between Russia and Iran in various fields. The two countries plan to further reinforce their ties through a “comprehensive strategic partnership” to be signed during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s planned visit to Russia. However, the date of the visit has not yet been set.
Meanwhile, a separate Iranian space programme run by the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard conducted successful launches from a military base outside Shahroud, about 350 kilometres (215 miles) east of the capital Tehran. However, satellite images suggest Israel probably bombed the site during its retaliatory strike on Iran on 26 October.
A worldwide threat assessment conducted by the US intelligence community this year said Iran’s development of satellite launch vehicles “would shorten the timeline” for the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. However, Iran has always denied attempting to develop nuclear weapons and has stated that its space programme, like its nuclear activities, is purely for civilian purposes.
In turn, the US and the IAEA argued that Iran had an organised military nuclear programme until 2003.
