سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی,
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) is a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces that also runs its own space program. The IRGC Aerospace Force has developed space-launch vehicles like the Qased and Qaem-100, and has successfully launched military satellites, including the Noor series, into orbit. These activities have raised concerns about the development of long-range ballistic missile technology. The IRGC's space program operates from facilities like the Shahroud Space Center.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Financial Times obtained leaked documents that allegedly showed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force asking Earth Eye Co to use the TEE-01B remote sensing spacecraft for image collection.
Emposat denies any knowledge of Iran using its ground stations and denies any cooperation with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or other military-related entities.
Leaked documents alleged that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force used the TEE-01B satellite to target U.S. and Israeli military forces and assets in the Middle East.
Earth Eye Co, also known as Beijing Mumei Starry Sky Technology Co Ltd, reached an agreement with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force to use a satellite and ground stations owned by Emposat.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force paid Earth Eye Co about 250 million yuan for use of TEE-01B and Emposat ground stations.
The agreement between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force and Earth Eye Co was closed in September 2024.
Iran operates a small fleet of Earth-observation satellites, including the Noor series launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps redeployed S-300 launchers near Tehran in response to a U.S. air power buildup converging on the CENTCOM theater.
A possible failed orbital launch attempt occurred at about 1500 UTC on September 18 involving an IRGC Zoljanah launch vehicle from Semnan, Iran.
The Qassed satellite carrier was designed and manufactured by the IRGC Aerospace Force.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched the Nour-1 military reconnaissance satellite on 2020-04-22 on a Qased rocket to an orbit 425 km above Earth.