TEHRAN -- The head of Iran's Space Agency, Hassan Salarieh, said on Wednesday that the space industry will become the world's main energy and resource bottleneck in the near future, comparing its future strategic importance to that of the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at a meeting with Iran's national astronomy and astrophysics olympiad team, Salarieh said the space sector is "one of the most effective fields in the near future and in managing quality of life," and that Iran's existing space capacities must be directed toward solving major national problems.

"All global forecasts show that with the passing of 2026, enormous capacities will flourish in the space industry, and countries are in serious competition to achieve these capabilities," he said.

Salarieh said that just as the Strait of Hormuz holds a strategic and vital position in global energy equations, "in the near future, access to resources on other planets and management of outer space will be equally decisive."

He added that any country able to use these resources will have a determining influence in global equations.

He also cited serious limitations in the fields of energy and materials, saying the specialized space sector is "the main venue for work on these limitations," with Iranian specialists working to exploit these capacities.

Addressing the medal winners present, Salarieh said the space industry is "the best platform for you to play a role," urging them to step onto the path of developing this roadmap according to their interests and capabilities.

Iran's national astronomy and astrophysics team won five gold medals at the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2026), held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from September 25 to October 5.