A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying the Iranian satellites Kosar, Paya and Zafar-2 was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East on Sunday, December 28. This was reported by Reuters with reference to Iranian media.
“These satellites were designed and built by Iranian scientists… despite all the sanctions and threats,” Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali told state television.
Tehran says the satellites are designed to collect environmental data for agriculture and monitor natural disasters. Iran says the program is purely peaceful and not used for military purposes.