Russia Launches Iranian Satellite Into Space, Marking New Cooperation

Russia launched an Iranian satellite into space from a base in southern Kazakhstan. The launch on Tuesday propelled a high-resolution, remote-sensing Khayyam satellite, which Iran claims will be used for non-military purposes, including researching radiation and environmental monitoring for agricultural purposes. The launch was broadcast live on Iranian state television. The satellite reportedly was successfully placed into orbit and data was later received from it. Iran’s Information and Communications Technology Minister Issa Zarepour said in a video statement the day before the launch that that it “is the start of a strategic cooperation between Iran and Russia in the space industry.” The Iranian Space Agency (ISA) has said that it will have exclusive control over the satellite; Iran has said that its military program is separate from the ISA. The launch comes three weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran and met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi. Russia and Iran are working to renew a 20-year cooperation agreement.