On 28 December, Russia launched three Iranian communications satellites, marking the second such launch since July of this year. The US has repeatedly stated that Iranian satellite launches contradict UN Security Council resolutions that restricted Iran’s missile technology development, Euronews reports.
At the same time, UN sanctions related to Iran’s missile program formally expired in 2023.
The launch confirmed the deepening strategic cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, particularly in sensitive space and military-technological domains. Previously, Iran supplied Russia with attack drones for its war against Ukraine, which killed thousands of civilians in the country.
Vostochny as a platform for Iranian ambitions
According to Iran’s state television, the launch was carried out by a Russian launch vehicle from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia. The satellites were placed into orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 km above Earth.
Three spacecraft were deployed into orbit:
- Paya — weighing 150 kg, the largest satellite Iran has ever launched into space;
- Kowsar — weighing 35 kg;
- Zafar-2 — weight undisclosed.
For comparison, in July 2025, a Russian rocket had already placed the Iranian communications satellite Nahid-2 into orbit, signaling the systemic nature of this cooperation.
Dual-use potential: civilian tasks or military utility?
Officially, the satellites are said to:
- provide imagery with up to 3-meter resolution;
- be used for water resource management,
agriculture, and environmental monitoring; - have an operational lifespan of up to five years.
However, it remains unclear whether satellites with such characteristics possess a clear dual-use potential, including:
- reconnaissance,
- strike targeting and adjustment.
A political signal to the West
Regular Iranian space launches enabled by Russia are likely a political marker of an emerging alternative bloc that openly disregards the position of the US and its allies.
Iran is considered part of the so-called "Axis of Upheaval," which is an informal grouping or strategic alignment among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. It is characterized by an anti-Western and especially an anti-American stance, per the Center for a New American Security.
