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The head of Iran's Space Research Institute has clarified that the loss of communication with the Hodhod and Kowsar satellites was caused by technical issues, not sabotage. Speaking to Digiato, Vahid Yazdaniyan stated, "The disconnection from the Hodhod and Kowsar satellites is due to technical reasons, and we have not received any reports suggesting sabotage."
According to Digiato, yesterday (October 5, 2025), the CEO of Omid Fazaa, the designer company of the Hodhod and Kowsar satellites, said in an interview that the communication breakdown was triggered by "an unintended command." The two satellites were launched into orbit in November 2024.
In his interview, the CEO indicated that technical failure was likely responsible, but did not entirely dismiss the possibility of connections to sabotage related to a recent 12-day war.
Today, Yazdaniyan reiterated that assessments thus far point to technical faults rather than sabotage. "Currently, our analysis does not suggest sabotage. These small satellites likely encountered technical issues. Our technical evaluation indicates that problems may have arisen during separation, manifesting as a loss of communication," he explained.
Yazdaniyan further elaborated that one of the satellites had experienced intermittent connectivity issues from the outset but managed brief radio communications before losing contact completely after two weeks. He emphasized that all evidence points to technical causes and confirmed no indications of foul play have been reported.
Additionally, Yazdaniyan acknowledged that failures in projects like these are not unusual. "This is nothing out of the ordinary," he remarked. "There have been multiple unsuccessful attempts even within governmental sectors. These two satellites represent early experiences for private industry, where failure is a natural possibility."
