(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a landmark moment for Iran’s ambitious space program, the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) has confirmed that the Chabahar Space Center, the largest launch complex in West Asia, is ready for its first-ever orbital launch.

This announcement, delivered by ISA chief Hassan Salarieh on October 4, 2025, marks the completion of the facility’s first phase — focused on solid-fuel rockets — and heralds a new era in Iran’s march toward technological sovereignty despite the tightening grip of Western sanctions.

Located in the southeastern port city of Chabahar, along the strategic Gulf of Oman, the site is Iran’s third satellite launch facility and second fully operational “spaceport”, after the Semnan and Qom launch complexes.

Unlike Iran’s older facilities deep in its interior, Chabahar’s location near the equator offers significant geospatial and launch efficiency advantages.

The equatorial proximity enables orbital inclinations between 40° and 100°, ideal for deploying satellites into sun-synchronous, polar, and geostationary orbits.

This allows Iran to launch heavier payloads with less fuel consumption — a capability previously reserved for advanced space powers like the United States, Russia, China, and India.

Moreover, Chabahar’s position along the Gulf of Oman provides Tehran with a dual strategic edge: access to open sea recovery corridors for test stages and enhanced security against potential foreign sabotage, a concern underscored by repeated cyberattacks and intelligence operations targeting its aerospace facilities.

This geographic advantage also places Chabahar closer to vital maritime trade routes connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, allowing Iran to integrate its space infrastructure with broader economic and strategic corridors under the Chabahar Free Zone Development Plan, which has drawn both Russian and Chinese investment interests.

Furthermore, the spaceport’s southern orientation offers a safer downrange trajectory for rocket debris and recovery, minimizing risks to populated areas — a crucial improvement over earlier sites like Semnan, which faced restrictions on launch azimuths due to inland geography.

Defence analysts also note that Chabahar’s proximity to Makran Naval Base enables coordinated tracking and security support from Iran’s Navy and IRGC Aerospace Force, effectively transforming the complex into a dual-use strategic asset that unites space operations, maritime surveillance, and missile defense under a single geographic command network.

Phase 1: Foundation for Solid-Fuel Rocket Operations

According to ISA documentation, Phase 1 construction of the Chabahar complex has achieved over 81% completion as of mid-2025.

This phase includes the core infrastructure — launch pads, telemetry and command centers, tracking radars, and hangars — designed to support solid-fuel satellite launch vehicles (SLVs).

Solid-propellant systems, such as those used in the Qased and Ghaem rocket families, are simpler to maintain, more mobile, and can be rapidly launched — attributes that also enhance their military utility.

By adopting solid-fuel technology for its first launches, Iran is leveraging experience drawn from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) missile program, where solid-propellant rockets form the basis of medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs and IRBMs) like the Sejjil and Kheibar.

Such crossover between civilian space projects and military applications has long fueled Western concern that Iran’s space ambitions may serve as a cover for intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) development.

These solid-fuel systems are also compatible with Iran’s emerging mobile launch platforms, enabling rapid launch sequences from hardened shelters or remote pads — a capability that significantly complicates early-warning detection by foreign surveillance satellites.

Iranian engineers have incorporated composite motor casings and advanced nozzle control technologies into the new solid-fuel designs, reducing overall mass while improving thrust-vectoring precision, a hallmark of next-generation missile and satellite launch systems.

Additionally, Phase 1 includes the establishment of an indigenous telemetry encryption network designed to shield launch data from external interception — a critical measure after multiple reports of cyber espionage attempts targeting Iran’s prior Simorgh and Zuljanah test campaigns.

Phase 2: Transition to Liquid-Fuel Rockets

Phase 2, scheduled to begin construction in 2026, will see the development of launch infrastructure for heavier, semi-heavy liquid-fuel rockets, capable of carrying multi-ton payloads into higher orbital regimes.

According to Salarieh, this transition will expand Iran’s launch capacity beyond the current small-satellite segment, enabling it to deploy medium Earth orbit (MEO) and geostationary satellites, including those designed for communications, navigation, and environmental monitoring.

Full operational readiness of the liquid-fuel section is targeted for 2028, by which time Chabahar is expected to evolve into West Asia’s most capable space launch base, rivaling India’s Sriharikota Range, Israel’s Palmachim Airbase, and China’s Wenchang Space Launch Center.

The scale and ambition of the project have prompted comparisons to Cape Canaveral, underscoring Tehran’s intent to build a permanent and autonomous launch infrastructure on par with major global powers.

Iran’s transition to liquid-fuel technology is expected to center on upgraded variants of the Simorgh and Zuljanah rockets, featuring more efficient turbopump systems and cryogenic propellants capable of sustaining longer burn durations for heavier payloads.

Tehran has reportedly been testing a new class of dual-chamber liquid engines, potentially designated as the Arvand series, which could serve as the propulsion backbone for future orbital and interplanetary missions launched from Chabahar.

Engineers from the Iranian Space Research Center (ISRC) are also developing indigenous guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems employing star-tracking sensors and domestic inertial navigation units, reflecting a broader effort to eliminate reliance on imported avionics.

Western intelligence assessments suggest that Phase 2 may include construction of a cryogenic fuel depot and mobile integration towers, allowing simultaneous preparation for multiple launches — a feature characteristic of advanced launch complexes in Russia’s Vostochny and China’s Jiuquan facilities.

When completed, the liquid-fuel segment of Chabahar is expected to provide Iran with multi-orbit flexibility, enabling the country to launch communication satellites for both civilian and military clients, as well as potential joint ventures with friendly nations under the Non-Aligned Space Cooperation Framework spearheaded by Tehran and Moscow.

Salarieh’s Announcement and Upcoming Launch Schedule

Speaking during World Space Week 2025, ISA chief Hassan Salarieh confirmed that preparations for Chabahar’s first launch are in their final stages.

He stated that the mission would involve a solid-fuel satellite launcher tasked with deploying components of the “Shahid Soleimani” satellite constellation, a cluster designed to provide Earth observation, reconnaissance, and communications services.

“The readiness of Chabahar Space Center will allow the Iranian Space Agency to conduct multiple launches in the coming months, including the first of the Shahid Soleimani constellation,” Salarieh declared.

The announcement follows months of speculation surrounding test launches of Iran’s Zafar, Paya, and Nahid-2 satellites, all of which are slated to be launched from Chabahar within the next year.

By late 2025, Iran aims to have full Phase 1 operational status, with at least two orbital launches completed, positioning Chabahar as the nation’s primary hub for both civilian and defense-oriented satellite missions.

Technological Parallels: From Qased to Ghaem-100

Iran’s previous Qased launcher, which placed the Noor military satellite into orbit in April 2020, was based on solid-fuel propulsion derived from the IRGC’s ballistic missile stockpile.

The Ghaem-100, developed by the IRGC Aerospace Force, represents a more advanced variant capable of carrying payloads exceeding 100 kilograms into low Earth orbit (LEO).

These technologies underpin Chabahar’s operational readiness, demonstrating Iran’s evolution from experimental to operational satellite launch capability.

Defense analysts suggest that the spaceport could soon host tests of multi-stage liquid-fuel vehicles, including potential iterations of the Simorgh and Zuljanah rockets, with extended range and thrust-to-weight efficiency comparable to early U.S. Atlas and Soviet R-7 systems.

The Ghaem-100 also incorporates a newly developed carbon-composite motor casing and an optimized solid-propellant grain configuration, which provide improved structural integrity and higher specific impulse compared to earlier Iranian launch vehicles.

Recent Iranian disclosures indicate that work is underway on the Ghaem-105 and Ghaem-120 variants, which will feature upper-stage liquid engines for orbital insertion and enhanced payload delivery accuracy, signifying a deliberate shift toward hybrid-propulsion architectures.

These incremental advancements align with Tehran’s stated goal of developing a three-stage launcher capable of deploying micro- and nano-satellite constellations — a cornerstone of Iran’s digital communications and Earth observation strategy under its “Horizon 2035 Space Plan.”

Military analysts assess that both the Qased and Ghaem series utilize scalable modular designs that can be adapted for suborbital testing of re-entry vehicles, a capability closely monitored by Western intelligence agencies due to its direct relevance to long-range missile development.

Additionally, Iranian engineers have reportedly integrated cold gas attitude control systems and multi-frequency telemetry transmitters into the Ghaem family, aligning their performance envelope with modern small-lift launchers such as China’s Kuaizhou-1A and Russia’s Start-1, marking Iran’s entry into a new tier of precision launch capability.

Geopolitical Implications: Space, Power, and Deterrence

Beyond its scientific ambitions, Chabahar’s development must be viewed within the broader geo-strategic competition in the Middle East.

As the region’s largest space launch complex, the facility enhances Tehran’s ability to field independent reconnaissance satellites, reducing reliance on foreign imagery and improving battlefield awareness across the Persian Gulf, Levant, and Arabian Peninsula.

The Shahid Soleimani constellation, in particular, is expected to provide near-continuous surveillance coverage, a capability critical for monitoring Israeli, U.S., and Gulf Arab naval deployments.

This makes Chabahar a strategic multiplier in Iran’s regional deterrence posture, complementing its growing ballistic and cruise missile arsenal.

Western intelligence agencies have long warned that such dual-use programs blur the line between civilian space research and military escalation, echoing Cold War–era concerns when early space programs often masked strategic missile testing.

Russian Cooperation and Technological Support

Multiple reports, including analyses from Bloomberg and Russian media outlets, indicate that Moscow has provided technical assistance to Chabahar’s construction and launch system calibration.

This cooperation builds upon earlier Iran–Russia space collaborations, including the 2022 launch of the Khayyam satellite, which utilized a Russian Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome.

For Russia, deepening space cooperation with Iran not only strengthens bilateral defense ties but also provides an avenue to circumvent Western sanctions while fostering a new axis of technological exchange between sanctioned states.

Western governments, particularly the United States and Israel, view this cooperation with alarm, fearing that Russia’s assistance could accelerate Iran’s development of long-range delivery systems capable of reaching beyond the Middle East.

International Scrutiny and Strategic Messaging

The U.S. Army’s TRADOC OE Watch has flagged the Chabahar Space Center as a potential missile test facility, citing overlapping infrastructure characteristics — including reinforced flame trenches and vertical launch towers — typical of military test ranges.

Washington argues that Iran’s continued space launches contravene United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which prohibits testing of ballistic missile technology capable of delivering nuclear warheads.

Iran, however, insists its space program is entirely peaceful, emphasizing scientific research, communications, and disaster management as primary objectives.

“The space program of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to thrive in the shadow of sanctions,” Salarieh asserted, reiterating Tehran’s commitment to peaceful development and technological independence.

Despite persistent criticism, Iran has conducted more than a dozen satellite launches since 2009, showcasing steady improvements in rocket staging, guidance systems, and payload integration.

Historical Context: Two Decades of Space Ambition

Iran’s first satellite, Omid, launched in 2009 aboard a Safir liquid-fuel rocket, symbolized Tehran’s entry into the global space community.

Subsequent milestones, such as the Rasad (2011), Navid (2012), and Fajr (2015) satellites, reflected incremental progress toward self-reliance in satellite design and orbital control.

The introduction of solid-fuel rockets after 2020 represented a doctrinal shift, integrating military-derived propulsion systems into the national space program.

This transition was catalyzed by international embargoes that restricted Iran’s access to advanced cryogenic and guidance systems, forcing indigenous innovation through the IRGC’s missile research ecosystem.

READ: Iran’s Space Program: A Strategic Cloak for ICBM Ambitions?

Comparative Perspective: Regional Space Race Intensifies

Iran’s Chabahar initiative unfolds amid an accelerating space race across Asia and the Middle East.

India’s ISRO, with its Sriharikota Range, remains the region’s leader in satellite diversity and frequency of launches, while Israel’s Ofek program continues to expand its military satellite network from the Palmachim Airbase.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are investing heavily in commercial space ventures, including the UAE’s Mars Mission and SaudiSat programs, with Western partnerships ensuring access to advanced propulsion and imaging systems.

Iran, isolated from these networks, is compelled to pursue a parallel, autonomous path—making Chabahar not just a technological milestone but a strategic declaration of self-reliance in an arena dominated by U.S.-aligned powers.

Looking forward, Iranian officials envision Phase 3 of Chabahar as a multi-mission complex capable of manned spaceflight, interplanetary probes, and commercial satellite services for developing nations seeking low-cost launch alternatives.

By 2030, Tehran aims to join the ranks of self-sustaining space nations capable of launching, operating, and maintaining orbital assets independent of external suppliers.

If successful, this would mark a profound shift in the strategic balance of spacepower in West Asia, potentially enabling Iran to provide regional launch services — a move that could challenge Western-dominated commercial markets.

Chabahar and the Future of Iran’s Space Doctrine

As the countdown to the first launch begins, Chabahar Space Center stands as both a symbol of defiance and innovation.

It represents Iran’s determination to break technological isolation, to demonstrate that its aerospace ambitions extend beyond rhetoric, and to cement its position as a regional leader in space capabilities.

Yet beneath the veneer of progress lies a deeper reality — one in which scientific advancement, national pride, and military deterrence converge.

With every stage tested and every payload deployed, Iran not only reaches for the stars but also reshapes the geopolitical landscape of space and security in the 21st century.

Analysts argue that Chabahar will become the nucleus of Iran’s “Integrated Aerospace Command,” linking satellite reconnaissance, missile defense, and electronic warfare networks into a unified strategic grid that enhances Tehran’s real-time situational awareness across the Middle East.

This transformation aligns with the IRGC’s long-term doctrine of “strategic depth,” allowing Iran to extend its deterrence posture beyond conventional borders and into orbital space, thereby challenging Western military dominance in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

The center’s dual-use nature also positions Iran to enter the commercial launch market for small-satellite deployment, targeting emerging clients in Asia, Africa, and Latin America seeking low-cost access to orbit outside U.S.- or EU-regulated networks.

Geopolitically, Chabahar’s expansion could trigger a regional space race, compelling neighboring states such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel to accelerate their own military and civilian satellite programs in response to Iran’s rising orbital footprint.

Ultimately, the Chabahar Space Center is not merely a technological achievement — it is a strategic declaration that Iran intends to become an enduring space power, leveraging its scientific progress to secure geopolitical influence, economic independence, and strategic deterrence well into the coming decades. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA