Russia successfully launched an Iranian communications satellite into orbit on Friday, marking the latest step in expanding strategic cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
A Russian Soyuz-2.1b rocket lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Oblast of Russia’s Far East, carrying the Iranian Nahid-2 satellite along with 19 other payloads. The Nahid-2, developed by the Iranian Space Research Center under a commercial agreement with the Iranian Space Agency, is designed for low-Earth orbit and is expected to operate for two years. The satellite weighs 110 kilograms (242 pounds) and was inserted into a 500-kilometer (310-mile) orbit.
The launch highlights deepening ties between Iran and Russia, particularly in advanced technology sectors. Over the past three years, the two nations have collaborated on four joint satellite launches. These include the deployment of two Kowsar imaging satellites and one Hodhod communications satellite in November 2024, as well as the Pars-1, a remote sensing satellite launched in February 2024.
In 2022, Russia also launched the Khayyam satellite, a high-resolution imaging satellite built for Iran. These joint efforts follow the signing of a 20-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in January 2025, which includes cooperation in space exploration, scientific research, and defense technologies as well as other fields.
Since the agreement went into force last month regular flights of Russian military aircraft have been observed through open monitoring channels arriving in Tehran before leaving soon after.
Iran continues to build its own domestic space capabilities as well. Tehran launched the Chamran-1 satellite in September 2024, followed by the Mehda, Kayhan-2, and Hatef-1 satellites in January 2024, all using Iran’s domestically developed Simorgh rocket.
The strengthening of Iran’s satellite infrastructure comes at a moment of heightened regional tension. Iran recently emerged from a 12-day war with Israel and sustained U.S. airstrikes on three of its nuclear facilities on June 22nd. Iranian officials believe further conflict is likely, and the bolstered satellite capabilities are expected to enhance the military’s intelligence and surveillance capacity in the event of renewed hostilities.