Iran has successfully launched three domestically developed observation satellites into space from Russia, marking another milestone in the country’s expanding space programme despite ongoing Western sanctions.
According to Iranian state television, the satellites — Zafar-2, Paya, and Kowsar 1.5 — were launched on Sunday aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia. The launch underscores Iran’s growing technical capabilities in satellite development and space exploration.
Iranian authorities reiterated that the country’s aerospace activities are entirely peaceful and fully compliant with United Nations Security Council resolutions related to its nuclear programme.
The official IRNA news agency reported that the satellites were developed by Iran’s private sector and are intended for earth observation purposes. Among them, Paya is described as Iran’s most advanced domestically produced imaging satellite to date. The satellite reportedly uses artificial intelligence technology to enhance image resolution and accuracy.
IRNA said Paya will play a key role in water resource management, environmental monitoring, and geographic mapping, supporting both scientific research and civil planning.
Iran selected Russia’s Soyuz launch vehicle for the mission due to its global reputation as one of the most reliable launch systems for transporting sensitive satellites, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.
The latest launch adds to Iran’s growing space activity, with the country having carried out 10 satellite launches over the past two years, including a similar mission from the same Russian launch site in July.
However, Iran’s space ambitions continue to draw concern from Western governments, which argue that satellite launch technology is dual-use and could potentially be adapted for ballistic missile development, capable of carrying nuclear payloads.
Tehran has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining that its space programme is strictly civilian in nature and denying any intention to develop nuclear weapons.
The launch highlights Iran’s determination to advance its technological capabilities and strengthen international cooperation in space exploration, even as geopolitical tensions persist.
