A Russian rocket has successfully launched an Iranian communications satellite into space, marking another step forward for Iran’s growing aerospace programme. According to Iranian state television, the Nahid 2 satellite was launched on Friday from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz rocket.
The Nahid 2 satellite, which weighs 110 kilograms or about 240 pounds, was both designed and built by Iranian engineers. This development is being seen as a significant milestone in Iran’s space ambitions.
However, the advancement of Iran’s space technology continues to raise concerns among Western countries. These governments have long warned that progress in Iran’s space programme could be used to strengthen its ballistic missile capabilities.
The announcement of the satellite launch came just ahead of a key diplomatic meeting in Istanbul, where nuclear talks resumed between Iran and European nations including Britain, France, and Germany. This meeting, which began Friday morning, is the first round of discussions since Israel’s attacks on Iran in mid-June. That conflict lasted for 12 days and saw the United States step in on Israel’s side by targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
In recent months, Iran has made several other claims about its space activities. In December, it announced the successful launch of its heaviest satellite payload to date using a satellite carrier built entirely within the country. Earlier in September, Iran also stated it had launched the Chamran 1 research satellite using the Ghaem 100 launch vehicle. That rocket was developed by the aerospace division of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
These continued developments in Iran’s space programme reflect the country’s ongoing investment in aerospace technology, even as international concerns persist regarding the dual-use nature of such advancements.
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