Russia to launch two Iranian satellites, says Tehran's envoy in Moscow

A billboard featuring an image of the Iranian Qased satellite carrier is being displayed in a residential area in northwestern Tehran, on December 13, 2023. [Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images]

Russia will launch two Iranian satellites using a Soyuz launcher on Tuesday, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow said today. The move comes as the two US-sanctioned countries deepen their scientific relationship, Reuters has reported.

“In continuation of the development of Iran-Russia scientific and technological cooperation, two Iranian satellites, Kowsar and Hodhod, will be launched to a 500 km orbit of earth on Tuesday,” explained Ambassador Kazem Jalali on X.

The development of Kowsar, a high-resolution imaging satellite, and Hodhod, a small communications satellite, is the first substantial effort by Iran’s private space sector, said Iran’s semi-official news agency, Tasnim, last month.

Russia launched an Iranian research-sensing satellite, Pars 1, into space in February using a Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

READ: Moscow: Russia, Iran nearing strategic agreement

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