Iran intends to expand Internet of Things services and strengthen its national space capabilities by launching twenty satellites under the “Shahid Soleimani Constellation” by the end of 2025. The Internet of Things, of course, is the connection of various instruments and physical objects that exchange information with each other over the internet.
Launches began in mid-2023, with experimental models expected to undergo testing by the end of this year.
According to Iranian officials, this marks the country’s first domestically developed narrowband satellite constellation, created through a combination of state-affiliated, knowledge-based firms and private companies. Launches began in mid-2023, with experimental models expected to undergo testing by the end of this year. The final satellites are to be manufactured and deployed after adjustments based on these trials. Officials emphasize that the program aims to enhance communications infrastructure, expand Internet of Things coverage, and advance Iran’s scientific and technological expertise in space.
The main goals of the constellation are to facilitate Internet of Things services and enhance communications. Satellites will transmit data, including soil moisture levels, oil and gas pipeline pressures, and environmental indicators. Ground sensors will gather information and transmit it to satellites via uplink stations. Remote device management is another feature of the system. Monitoring pipelines, handling crises, supervising remote or difficult-to-reach locations, and offering nationwide Internet of Things connection are other uses.
Tehran views the project as a step toward lowering dependency on foreign technology, developing autonomous satellite and communications systems, and lessening the effects of international sanctions. Officials in Iran say it will boost the country’s competitiveness in the international space industry, by allowing Iran to develop multipurpose space technologies and improve communications services.
The project has important strategic ramifications in addition to its technological objectives. The constellation can be used for both military and civilian purposes because of its dual-purpose nature. It might support narrowband communications and Internet of Things services while bolstering secure military communications, intelligence collection, and positioning systems necessary for drones, ballistic missile guidance, and regional operations. These roles are in line with Tehran’s larger “Two-Wing Doctrine,” which aims to increase deterrence against Israel, the United States, and their allies while also extending regional influence. The program concerns neighboring states, because it could strengthen Iran’s diplomatic clout and enhance its coordination with proxies.
These advancements unfold amid heightened regional tensions and underscore Iran’s growing cooperation with Russia.
Western intelligence agencies have expressed alarm over Iran’s use of launch vehicles such as Simorgh, Qased, and Ghaem-100, warning that the underlying rocket technology could accelerate the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. These advancements unfold amid heightened regional tensions and underscore Iran’s growing cooperation with Russia. Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome has launched Iranian satellites, including the Nahid-2, demonstrating Iran’s “Look East” strategy to partner with Moscow and Beijing to acquire advanced space technology while circumventing Western sanctions and isolation. Initiatives such as the planned Chabahar Spaceport highlight Iran’s ambition to reduce dependence on foreign launch providers and offer launch services to allied nations. Domestically, the space program doubles as a powerful symbol of national pride and technological autonomy.
Strong technological overlaps between satellite launch systems and missile development are evident in recent suborbital rocket tests, such as those conducted with the Qased vehicle. According to experts, Iran’s narrowband satellite program has the potential to improve ballistic missile capabilities because testing improves crucial elements like propulsion, staging, and guidance. Despite its stated limit of 1,250 miles, Tehran portrays these efforts as civilian, but Western nations worry they may push Iran closer to intercontinental missile ranges. Furthermore, the fact that satellite launches occur in conjunction with heightened hostilities, Israeli strikes on Iranian missile installations, or regional tensions implies that they also serve as strategic signals, increasing the possibility of a wider escalation.
