Iran, Russia Companies Sign MoU on Space Launch Services
Iran, Russia Companies Sign MoU on Space Launch Services
Russia's Space Corporation, on Thursday, said it signed memorandums with two Iranian companies on launch services, Anadolu News Agency reports.

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Russia’s Space Corporation, on Thursday, said it signed memorandums with two Iranian companies on launch services, Anadolu News Agency reports.

“As a result of international events, conferences and exhibitions organised with the participation of Roscosmos and enterprises of the rocket and space industry … Memorandums of cooperation in the field of launch services were signed with the Iranian companies SAHAB and SpaceOmid”, a Roscosmos statement said.

Last month, Roscosmos had said that a delegation from the Corporation was taking part in the 11th Iranian International Air Show, during which the delegation planned to hold a series of meetings with Iranian officials, as well as representatives of other “friendly countries”.

In August 2022, Roscosmos said that it launched Iran’s Khayyam satellite, named after the 11th Century Persian poet and philosopher, Omar Khayyam, into orbit from the Baikonur spaceport in southern Kazakhstan.

Roscosmos Director-General, Yury Borisov described the launch of the Iranian satellite as a milestone event in Russian-Iranian cooperation.

Meanwhile on Wednesday President Ebrahim Raisi hailed Iran’s achievements in the space industry, saying the rapid progress in the field has proved the failure of Western sanctions and plots to isolate the Islamic Republic.

Raeisi made the remarks in an address to the second meeting of the country’s Supreme Space Council in the capital Tehran.

Regarding the achievements made in the space industry, the president noted that Iran was one of the few countries that achieved the technology of launching spacecraft.

“Further progress by the country in the field of placing satellites into the Earth’s orbit would neutralize the enemies’ plots in the area of broadcasting anti-Iranian television and satellite channels,” he stated.

Iran launched its first satellite Omid (Hope) in 2009 and its Rasad (Observation) satellite was sent into orbit in 2011.

In 2012, Iran successfully put its third domestically-made satellite, Navid (Good News), into orbit.

In April 2020, the country announced the successful launch of its first military satellite into orbit. And in March 2022, it blasted its second military satellite into space.

 

 

The president also pointed to the enemy’s efforts to portray Iran’s space achievements as limited to military purposes. Raisi said the space industry is among the country’s assets and also among the propelling industries, whose advancement alongside other industries and sciences, would contribute to the enhancement of the country’s overall strength.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he added, “Space sciences and industries are, today, one of the world’s booming economic and commercial arenas,” expressing the necessity of “commercialization of this science and industry.”

Also during the meeting, Hassan Salarieh, Head of Iran’s Space Organization, announced the approval of the country’s strategic 10-Year Space Program by the Supreme Space Council.

In line with the program’s scope, the Islamic Republic plans to become the regional epicenter of development of space technologies, and provider of space launch services.

The Iranian program also aims to devise and implement space missions in line with its goal of helping civilian, business, and executive organizations benefit from the world’s state-of-the-art technologies.

Meanwhile on Thursday Advisor to Supreme Leader for International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati in a meeting with former deputy Speaker of Russia’s State Duma Sergey Baburin termed the relations between Iran and Russia as very important.

“Relations between Iran and Russia are currently at the best level and developing,” said Velayati, adding that the relations between the two countries are very important.

Referring to the Ukrainian war, he called the US and NATO as the main causes of the spread of the conflict. “Today’s world is no longer unipolar, and it is very important for independent countries to be careful of their [U.S. and NATO] influence in the region.

Velayati also pointed to the South Caucasus region, saying, “As the Leader of the Islamic Revolution emphasized, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept any changes in the current borders and the security of the region must be preserved.”

Baburin, for his part, called the purpose of his visit to Iran to participate in the international meeting of the anniversary martyrdom of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

He said that Soleimani was indeed a very important and influential figure. “He is known as a hero in Russia and Iran, and it is clear to the whole world that the United States committed this terrorist act, and the Americans, including Trump, have admitted this many times.”

Baburin emphasized the ineffectiveness of the US sanctions, saying that Russia can use Iran’s experience in the issue of neutralizing sanctions, and the cooperation between Iran, Russia, and Syria is a valuable basis for the multipolar world.

“The relations between Iran and Russia are friendly and close,” he said.