Russia has successfully placed three Iranian communications satellites into orbit, marking the second such launch this year, according to Iranian state television.

The report said a Russian rocket lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia on Sunday, carrying the satellites into a roughly 500-kilometer (310-mile) orbit around Earth. The satellites have been named Paya, Kowsar and Zafar-2.

Among them, Paya is the largest satellite Iran has ever sent into space, weighing about 150 kilograms (330 pounds). Kowsar weighs 35 kilograms (77 pounds), while details about the weight of Zafar-2 were not disclosed.

The satellites are capable of capturing images with up to three-meter resolution, which can be used for monitoring water resources, agriculture and environmental conditions. Their expected operational lifespan is up to five years.

The launch underscores the close cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, as Russia has periodically assisted Iran in placing satellites into orbit. Earlier in July, a Russian rocket launched Iran’s Nahid-2 communications satellite.

Russia and Iran signed a strategic partnership agreement in January. Moscow has also strongly criticized Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran during a 12-day conflict in June that reportedly killed nearly 1,100 people in Iran, including senior military officials and nuclear scientists. Iranian missile attacks in response killed 28 people in Israel.

Iran has long pursued satellite development and periodically launches space vehicles to deploy its satellites.

The United States has argued that Iran’s satellite launches violate a UN Security Council resolution and has urged Tehran to avoid activities related to ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. However, UN sanctions tied to Iran’s ballistic missile program expired in 2023.

Source: AP