TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iranian state TV says a joint research satellite has been successfully launched into orbit by a Chinese rocket.

Iranian Telecommunication Minister Mohammad Soleimani says that Iran, China and Thailand worked together to build the satellite.

In his televised remarks Sunday, Soleimani said the three countries suffer from natural disasters and the satellite would transmit photos to help deal with these crises.

Iran is working on creating a space program. Earlier in August, Iran test launched a rocket it hopes will one day carry its own research satellite into orbit.