TEHRAN – Iran will continue expanding its space infrastructure and accelerate development of communication, remote sensing and radar satellites in the Iranian year 1405, with plans including further work on the Nahid-2 and Nahid-3 communication satellites, the Shahid Soleimani satellite constellation, triple-satellite orbital injections, the launch of Pars-2, and the unveiling of the country’s first domestically built radar satellite, the head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference, Deputy Communications Minister and ISA chief Hassan Salarieh said Iran’s space program is currently focused on three main areas: development of space infrastructure, satellite design and manufacturing, and downstream services based on satellite imagery and data.
Salarieh said infrastructure projects launched under Iran’s 10-year space program are continuing, including expansion of satellite control centers, launch facilities, testing laboratories and supporting infrastructure. He said significant progress has been achieved during 1404, with several facilities becoming operational, including the Salmas satellite control center.
He added that work will continue this year on laboratories, the Chabahar launch base and other infrastructure projects. According to Salarieh, Iran plans to establish an integrated nationwide network of satellite control centers to improve communications with satellites, speed up the reception of satellite imagery and data, reduce access intervals and extend satellite operational life.
He also announced plans to establish a network of mobile ground stations to ensure uninterrupted satellite communications and data services across the country, adding that several new facilities would be inaugurated and unveiled during 1405.
On satellite manufacturing, Salarieh said one of the country’s most important achievements in 1404 was the launch of Nahid-2,
described as Iran’s first communications satellite, developed jointly by the Ministry of Communications and the Iranian Space Research Center. He said the satellite’s initial low-Earth orbit tests were largely successful and yielded valuable operational experience.
Building on those results, Iran is now developing an upgraded version of the platform capable of providing constellation-based communications services. The project, which began last year, will continue throughout 1405.
Salarieh also outlined progress on Nahid-3, describing it as another communications satellite designed to provide services from geostationary orbit at an altitude of about 36,000 kilometers. He said the satellite remains in the design phase while work on major subsystems, including propulsion and thrusters, is underway.
He explained that communications satellites primarily handle data transmission and may operate either individually or as part of constellations. Satellites in low Earth orbit generally require constellation deployment, while satellites positioned in geostationary orbit can provide extensive coverage individually, reducing the total number of satellites required.
Salarieh stressed that Nahid-2 and Nahid-3 are long-term strategic projects extending beyond 1405, although major milestones involving subsystem development, engineering models and prototype construction are expected over the coming year.
A major focus of Iran’s communications program is the Shahid Soleimani satellite constellation, which Salarieh described as one of the country’s flagship projects. The first phase comprises 24 satellites, including 18 operational spacecraft and six reserve satellites.
He said the first prototype of the constellation was unveiled during National Space Technology Day in Bahman 1404 in the presence of the communications and defense ministers, while subsystem development has already been completed and integration of the remaining satellites is underway.
According to Salarieh, plans for 1405 include unveiling additional satellites in the constellation and launching them once the designated launch vehicle becomes available.
He added that Iran is preparing for the simultaneous deployment of three satellites by a single launch vehicle, describing it as one of the major milestones planned for 1405. While Iran has previously conducted multiple-satellite deployments in recent years, Salarieh said the upcoming mission represents a more advanced capability.
The Shahid Soleimani constellation is designed primarily as a narrowband communications system capable of supporting Internet of Things (IoT) applications, emergency communications and transmission of small volumes of data from areas lacking terrestrial infrastructure.
Salarieh said the constellation’s second phase has been upgraded beyond its original IoT concept to include inter-satellite links (ISL), significantly enhancing its communications capability. He said the system would support disaster management, forest monitoring, wildfire detection, leak monitoring and other applications requiring rapid transmission of critical information.
Turning to remote sensing satellites, Salarieh highlighted the simultaneous launch last year of Zafar-2, Paya and Kosar satellites, describing it as an important milestone involving cooperation between a university, a private company and a government organization.
He said development of remote sensing satellites would continue during 1405, with Pars-2 now completing final testing ahead of launch. The satellite offers imaging accuracy better than three meters and will strengthen Iran’s Earth observation capabilities.
Meanwhile, design work on Pars-3 is progressing. Salarieh said the satellite is intended to achieve one-meter imaging resolution and is being developed by the Iranian Space Research Center. Although it will not be completed during 1405, work on engineering models, prototypes and subsystem development will continue throughout the year.
Salarieh also announced the imminent unveiling of Iran’s first domestically built radar satellite, Rad-1, saying only technical considerations had delayed its introduction. He described the project as a major milestone for Iran’s space industry.
He added that Rad-2, a higher-resolution radar satellite, is also under development by the Iranian Space Research Center under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications.
Salarieh said Iran’s private sector is playing an increasingly important role in satellite development. Following the launch of the first Kosar satellite in 1403 and a second model last year, more advanced versions with higher imaging accuracy are now under development.
According to Salarieh, the Iranian Space Agency has shifted its strategy from isolated satellite projects toward integrated satellite constellations supported by indigenous launch vehicles and orbital transfer vehicles capable of placing multiple satellites into different orbital positions during a single mission.
He said orbital transfer vehicles using restartable liquid-fuel propulsion systems are being developed jointly by the Aerospace Industries Organization and the Iranian Space Research Center and are regarded as a key technology for future access to geostationary orbit.
Beyond satellite manufacturing, Salarieh emphasized expanding services based on satellite imagery and data. He said satellite data already support water resource management, environmental monitoring, agriculture, land-use planning, disaster assessment and insurance claims.
He also highlighted the “Single Land Window” platform, which uses satellite imagery from Khayyam, Paya and future domestic satellites to detect illegal land-use changes and monitor national resources. While both domestic and foreign satellite imagery are currently used, he said Iran’s long-term strategy is to steadily increase reliance on indigenous satellites.
Salarieh further announced plans to launch a national geoportal that will allow government institutions, businesses, researchers and eventually individuals to access satellite imagery, subject to security approvals.
He also invited universities and research institutions to expand cooperation with the Iranian Space Agency, saying the organization welcomes researchers seeking to process and analyze satellite data as part of scientific and technological development.