Russia puts Iranian satellite into orbit

MOSCOW, Aug 9 (Reuters) – Russia introduced an Iranian satellite into orbit on Tuesday from southern Kazakhstan, simply 3 weeks after President Vladimir Putin and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged to paintings in combination towards the West.

The far off Khayyam sensing satellite, named after the eleventh Century Persian poet and thinker Omar Khayyam, was once introduced by way of a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and entered orbit effectively, Russia’s area company mentioned.

Iran’s area company has won the primary telemetry knowledge despatched from the satellite, the professional IRNA information company mentioned. learn extra

Tehran has rejected claims the satellite might be utilized by Moscow to spice up its intelligence features in Ukraine, pronouncing Iran may have complete regulate and operation over it “from day one.”

The Washington Post reported ultimate week that U.S. officers are involved by way of the fledgling area cooperation between Russia and Iran, fearing the satellite is not going to handiest assist Russia in Ukraine but additionally supply Iran “unprecedented capabilities” to observe doable army objectives in Israel and the broader heart east.

Iran says the satellite is designed for medical analysis together with radiation and environmental tracking for agricultural functions.

Russia has sought to deepen its ties with Iran since Feb. 24, when the Kremlin ordered tens of 1000’s of troops into Ukraine, prompting the United States and its allies to impose probably the most critical sanctions in contemporary historical past.

In July, Putin visited Iran in his first global travel outdoor the previous Soviet Union because the get started of Russia’s army marketing campaign in Ukraine.

While there, Khamenei advised Putin that Tehran and Moscow had to keep vigilant towards “Western deception”. learn extra

Space has been one box the place the United States and Russia have historically maintained cooperation and powerful ties in spite of geopolitical tensions between Moscow and Washington.

Roscosmos and NASA lately inked a deal to hold every different’s astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), however Moscow has made noises about quitting the ISS at some degree sooner or later. learn extra

Putin lately got rid of the outspoken Dmitry Rogozin as head of Roscosmos, changing him with a former defence consultant in a shake-up of the company. learn extra

Reporting by way of Reuters; modifying by way of Guy Faulconbridge

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