By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies

Tehran, Iran – On Thursday, Iran announced the successful launch of the “Pars-I” remote sensing and imaging satellite into orbit, utilizing the Russian Soyuz-2.1b launcher. State media reported that the live broadcast of the launch was carried out by Iran’s state television.

The satellite was launched from Russia’s Vostochny launch base, situated approximately 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) east of Moscow, as reported by Iran’s official news agency, IRNA. Issa Zareppur, Iran’s telecommunications minister, emphasized that “Pars-I” was fully developed within Iran. He highlighted that the country has conducted a dozen satellite launches over the past two years.

In January, Iran had announced the simultaneous launch of three satellites into orbit, closely following the deployment of a research satellite by its Revolutionary Guards.

Despite Iran’s assertions that its satellite launches are for civil or defense purposes only, Western governments, including the United States, have repeatedly expressed concerns. They argue that the technology used in satellite launches can also be employed for ballistic missiles, including those intended for carrying nuclear warheads.

In August 2022, Russia faced controversy when it launched Iran’s Khayyam satellite into orbit from Kazakhstan. There were concerns that Moscow might leverage the satellite to enhance surveillance of military targets, particularly in its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia has been working to strengthen alliances with countries facing Western isolation, and Iran is among them. The United States recently announced plans to impose new sanctions on Iran, citing its alleged support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tehran has consistently denied these allegations.

As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, Iran’s advancements in satellite technology remain under scrutiny, with global powers closely monitoring the implications of such developments.