Saeed Jabal-Ameli told reporters on Wednesday that the satellite would be launched into space by the summer of the Iranian year 1392 (September 2013).
He said that Zafar had better and more capabilities compared to its original version, Navid satellite.
Iran successfully launched its first indigenous data-processing satellite Omid (Hope) into orbit in 2009.
As part of a plan to develop its space program, Iran successfully launched its second satellite, dubbed Rassad (Observation), into orbit in June 2011. Rassad’s mission was to take images of the Earth and transmit them along with telemetry information to ground stations.
Iran also launched its domestically-built Navid-e Elm-o Sanat (Harbinger of Science and Industry) satellite into orbit in February 2012. The records made by the telecom, measurement and scientific satellite could be used in a wide range of fields.
On Monday, Iran also sent a monkey into space aboard an indigenous bio-capsule as a prelude to sending humans into space.
Iran is one of the 24 founding members of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which was set up in 1959.
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