TEHRAN - Iran and Russia have agreed to cooperate to launch two satellites.

The agreement came during a meeting between Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister Reza Taqipour and Russian Communications and Mass Media Minister Igor Olegovich Shchegolev in Russia last week.
According to the agreement, the launch of a remote sensing satellite and a telecommunications satellite has been placed on the Iranian communications ministry’s agenda for the current Iranian calendar year (began March 21), Mohammad Hosseinpour, an advisor to the communications minister, told the Mehr News Agency on Monday.
Hosseinpour said the two countries also agreed to construct fiberoptic telecommunications systems under the Caspian Sea in order to expand the communications links between the two nations.
He pointed to the high communications traffic in the region, saying that the establishment of fiberoptic systems could make communications more economical.
However, further negotiations between Caspian Sea littoral states will be necessary before the plan can be implemented, he added.
He went on to say that Iran is ready to help reduce telecommunications traffic between Russia and Europe.
Hosseinpour said Moscow is interested in expanding ties with Tehran in the field of information technology and communications because Russian officials believe that cooperation between the two countries in this area will increase in the future and Russia should make efforts to meet its need for strong telecommunications links.
Taqipour traveled to Russia last week upon the invitation of the Russian communications minister