Russia to Launch Two Iranian Satellites, Expanding Scientific Ties with Iran
On Tuesday, Russia will launch two Iranian satellites into orbit aboard a Soyuz rocket, as the two nations strengthen their scientific and technological cooperation, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali announced.
The two satellites, named Kowsar and Hodhod, will be placed in orbit around 500 kilometers above Earth. Kowsar is a high-resolution imaging satellite, while Hodhod is a small communication satellite. According to Jalali, this launch marks a significant step in Iran’s private space sector development.
This is not the first time Russia has supported Iran’s space projects. Earlier this year, Russia launched Iran’s Pars 1 satellite, a remote-sensing satellite, from its Vostochny Cosmodrome.
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In addition to scientific ties, Russia and Iran are expected to soon sign a new defense cooperation agreement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted this development last week, explaining that the treaty would strengthen Russian-Iranian relations in areas of security and defense.
The agreement was first mentioned by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit in October, with plans to sign it during an upcoming visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Moscow. The treaty aims to boost cooperation between Russia and Iran to promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.