As the United States advocates for peace talks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Russia is pursuing a different path, strengthening ties with nations opposed to the U.S. and positioning itself as defiant against Western influence.

This approach was evident recently when Iran revealed that three of its locally developed satellites were successfully placed into orbit using a Russian rocket.

Iran’s Arabic-language state broadcaster, Al-Alam News Network, aired the launch, showing the satellites taking off from Russian soil. Reports from the Associated Press and Reuters confirmed that the satellites were propelled into space by a Russian rocket launched from eastern Russia. This event marks the seventh occasion on which Iran has collaborated with Russia for satellite launches.

On January 17, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met in Moscow, affirming their alliance. (Photo by Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool via Reuters)

Iranian Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, emphasized that the satellites were crafted by Iranian scientists, highlighting that the partnership between Tehran and Moscow persists “despite all the sanctions and threats,” as reported by Iranian state media and referenced by Reuters.

Iranian officials claim the satellites are intended for civilian purposes, including environmental monitoring and agriculture, though Western governments have long warned that Iran’s space program could advance technologies applicable to ballistic missile development.

The launch underscored a broader strategic relationship between Moscow that has expanded significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Iran has supplied Russia with drones and other military equipment used on the battlefield, while Russia has provided diplomatic cover, economic cooperation and advanced technical support amid sweeping Western sanctions on both countries.

A Russian warship and an Iranian army speed boat attend a joint naval exercise on Tuesday. (AP/Iranian Army)

The growing Russia-Iran alignment comes as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to rise. After President Donald Trump recently warned that the United States could strike Iran again if it attempted to rebuild its nuclear program, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a sharp response.

According to the Associated Press, Pezeshkian said any U.S. attack would be met with a “harsh and discouraging” response. Iranian officials framed the warning as defensive, arguing it was meant to deter potential U.S. aggression rather than signal an intention to initiate conflict. Tehran has repeatedly said its nuclear program is peaceful, a claim the United States and its allies dispute.

Russian army Mi-24 helicopters fly above a warship at the Turali range on the Caspian Sea coast in the Republic of Dagestan in Southern Russia on Sept. 23, 2020 during the “Caucasus-2020” military drills gathering China, Iran, Pakistan and Myanmar troops, along with ex-Soviet Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images)

The exchange highlights how Iran and Russia are increasingly positioning themselves as partners pushing back against U.S. pressure, even as Washington attempts to pursue diplomacy on multiple fronts. Russia has portrayed its partnerships with Iran and other sanctioned states as evidence that Western efforts to isolate Moscow have failed, while Iran has used its cooperation with Russia to showcase technological resilience under sanctions.