It is another symbol of deepening strategic cooperation between Russia and Iran, a point of concern for U.S.-led Western allies.

A Russian rocket sent an Iranian communications satellite into orbit Friday, a launch that highlighted strong ties between the two countries. The Soyuz rocket lifted off as scheduled from Vostochny launchpad in far eastern Russia,

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched the Ionosfera-M 3 and 4 satellites, along with an Iranian spacecraft and 17 cubesats, toward orbit early Friday morning (July 25).