Russian Space Agency Discussing Possible Training of Iranian Astronaut

Roscosmos General Director said that Russia’s space agency is currently in talks with Tehran on the possible training of an Iranian astronaut for a space mission.

TSIOLKOVSKY (Vostochny Cosmodrome) (Sputnik) – Russia’s Roscosmos space agency is currently in talks with Tehran on the possible training of an Iranian astronaut for a space mission, Roscosmos General Director Igor Komarov said Wednesday.

Komarov also said negotiations were also underway on launching a satellite for Iran.

“I wouldn’t say that there are any contracts signed, but on the other hand, I wouldn’t say that interest has faded. We are currently on the stage of working on these issues. We’re discussing the possibility of training [an Iranian] astronaut and constructing a satellite,” Komarov told journalists at the Vostochny Cosmodrome currently under construction.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told Russian media in November 2015 that Moscow and Tehran had struck a deal to cooperate in space research.

Iranian Vice President Sorena Sattar said in the summer that Iran was interested in running joint space projects with Russia. He lauded Russian space technology as being unparalleled and said Iran wanted to use Russian carrier rockets to put satellites into orbit.