Iran launches satellites on Russian rockets as Moscow-Tehran ties deepen
As the United States pushes for negotiations to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, Russia is signaling a parallel approach — strengthening ties with U.S. adversaries and presenting itself as resistant to Western pressure.
That strategy was evident this week when Iran announced it had launched three domestically developed satellites into orbit using a Russian rocket.
Iran’s Arabic-language state broadcaster, Al-Alam News Network, aired footage showing the satellites lifting off from Russian territory. The Associated Press and Reuters reported that the launch took place from eastern Russia and marked the seventh time Iran has sent satellites into space with Russian assistance.
Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said the satellites were “designed and produced by Iranian scientists,” adding that cooperation between Tehran and Moscow continues “despite all the sanctions and threats,” according to Iranian state media cited by Reuters. Iranian officials say the satellites are intended for civilian uses such as environmental monitoring and agricultural planning. Western governments, however, have long cautioned that Iran’s space program could contribute to technologies applicable to ballistic missile development.
The launch highlights the expanding strategic relationship between Moscow and Tehran, which has grown significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Iran has provided Russia with drones and other military equipment used in the conflict, while Russia has offered diplomatic backing, economic cooperation, and technical support as both countries face extensive Western sanctions. The deepening partnership comes amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington.
After President Donald Trump recently warned that the United States could strike Iran again if it attempted to rebuild its nuclear program, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a forceful response. According to the Associated Press, Pezeshkian said any U.S. attack would be met with a “harsh and discouraging” reaction.
Iranian officials described the statement as defensive, saying it was intended to deter potential U.S. action rather than signal plans for conflict. Tehran continues to maintain that its nuclear program is peaceful, a claim disputed by the United States and its allies.
The exchange underscores how Iran and Russia are increasingly presenting themselves as aligned partners pushing back against U.S. pressure, even as Washington pursues diplomacy on several fronts.
Russia has pointed to its partnerships with Iran and other sanctioned nations as evidence that Western efforts to isolate Moscow have fallen short, while Iran has used its cooperation with Russia to demonstrate technological capability despite international sanctions.
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