SAEDNEWS: Iran’s space industry could emerge as a strategic gateway to future energy and mineral resources, while playing an increasingly important role in improving quality of life and tackling major global challenges, the head of the Iran Space Agency said on Wednesday.
According to Saednews, Hassan Salarieh said Iran considers the space sector a strategic priority and that, alongside areas such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology, it could play a decisive role in energy, mineral resource utilization and productivity management.
He said global forecasts indicate significant growth in space capabilities after 2026, with countries entering an increasingly intense race to develop and gain access to advanced space technologies.
According to Salarieh, access to resources beyond Earth and the management of outer space could eventually become as strategically important to global affairs as the Strait of Hormuz is to international energy markets.
He added that countries capable of exploiting extraterrestrial resources could consequently gain greater influence in global affairs.
Salarieh also highlighted growing pressure on energy and material resources, saying the space sector would be an important area for addressing these challenges. He noted that Iranian specialists are working to strengthen the country’s capabilities in the field.
