The two satellites named Khalije Fars (Persian Gulf) and Tadbir (wisdom) were built by scientists at local universities.

One of the satellites will bolster Iran’s wireless connections and the other is capable of taking high-resolution pictures.

Khalije Fars, designed and manufactured by researchers at Malek Ashtar University, is a small satellite which provides secure satellite wireless connections at national or regional scope.

Tadbir was built by Tehran's University of Science and Industry and is capable of conducting photographic assignments with a resolution of 100 meters (yards)

The deputy head of Iran's space agency, Hamid Fazeli, meanwhile told that the Islamic Republic will launch a satellite into orbit by the end of the Iranian year, which ends on March 21 .

Fazeli added that Tadbir is among a number of satellites that are ready to be launched into space.

In December, Iran safely returned a monkey to Earth after blasting it into space in the second such launch.

Iran has already launched three satellites into space since 2009 and plans to send a human into orbit by 2020.

RA/NJF