NEW DELHI: Iran used a Chinese-built spy satellite to monitor and target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent conflict, according to an investigation by the Financial Times, citing leaked Iranian military documents and satellite data.Meanwhile China’s ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson rejecting the claims said, “Media reports accusing China of providing military support to Iran are purely fabricated. If the US goes ahead with tariff hikes on China on the basis of these accusations, China will respond with countermeasures.” The report states that the satellite, named TEE-01B, was secretly acquired by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force in late 2024 after being launched from China. Built by Chinese firm Earth Eye Co, the satellite was transferred in orbit under a little-known export model described as “in-orbit delivery”.Leaked documents, including time-stamped coordinate logs, imagery and orbital analysis, show that Iranian commanders used the satellite to monitor key US military facilities before and after missile and drone strikes in March.Among the sites surveilled were Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, which the satellite imaged on March 13, 14 and 15. On March 14, US President Donald Trump confirmed that US aircraft stationed there had been hit, with five US Air Force refuelling planes damaged.The satellite also monitored Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, areas near the US Fifth Fleet base in Manama, Bahrain, Erbil airport in Iraq, as well as Camp Buehring and Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait. Additional targets included Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti and Duqm International Airport in Oman.The report further notes that civilian infrastructure in the Gulf was also observed, including the Khor Fakkan container port and the Qidfa power and desalination plant in the United Arab Emirates, along with the Alba aluminium facility in Bahrain.Under the agreement, the IRGC gained access to ground control infrastructure operated by Emposat, a Beijing-based provider with a global network. This enabled Iran to operate the satellite remotely, receive imagery, and direct missions from multiple locations.In September 2024, the IRGC Aerospace Force agreed to pay approximately Rmb250 million, or about $36.6 million, for the satellite system, including launch, technical support and data services, according to the documents.Experts said the satellite marks a major upgrade in Iran’s capabilities. “This satellite is clearly being used for military purposes, as it is being run by the IRGC’s Aerospace Force and not Iran’s civilian space programme,” said Nicole Grajewski. “Iran really needs this foreign-provided capability during this war, as it allows the IRGC to identify targets ahead of time and check the success of its strikes,” she added.TEE-01B is capable of capturing imagery at roughly half-metre resolution, significantly sharper than Iran’s earlier systems such as Noor-3, which offered about 5-metre resolution and could not clearly identify aircraft or detailed activity at bases.Analysts say the arrangement also reflects a broader strategy to protect Iran’s space assets. “This amounts to a dispersion strategy for Iran’s space assets,” said Jim Lamson. “Iran’s satellite ground stations, which were hit in 2025 and 2026, can be hit very easily by missiles from a thousand miles away. You can’t just hit a Chinese ground station located in another country,” he added.Israel’s military has said it struck multiple Iranian space and satellite-related facilities during the conflict, including a key research centre linked to the Iranian space programme.The development comes amid deepening cooperation between Iran, China and Russia in the space domain. China has positioned its commercial space sector as civilian, although analysts point to increasing dual-use applications.US officials have previously raised concerns about Chinese satellite firms aiding actors hostile to US interests. The Financial Times reported earlier that Chang Guang Satellite Technology had provided imagery to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.Emposat has also drawn scrutiny for its links to China’s military ecosystem. It was identified in a report by the US House China committee as having connections to the People’s Liberation Army Aerospace Force.“Emposat is a rising star in China’s commercial space sector, but it’s still a product of the state and military establishment,” said Aidan Powers-Riggs. “It was founded by veterans of China’s state-run space programme and bankrolled by investment from national military-civil fusion funds.”Former US intelligence officials have also suggested that Beijing’s support for Tehran may be part of a broader strategic calculus. Dennis Wilder said China has historically provided Iran with military support, including anti-ship missiles used in the Strait of Hormuz.One person familiar with the matter said the US had indications China was considering supplying shoulder-fired missiles to Iran, similar to those reportedly used to shoot down a US fighter jet. The Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment, and the White House did not directly address the satellite link.Responding to questions, China’s embassy in Washington said, “We firmly oppose relevant parties spreading speculative and insinuative disinformation against China.” Spokesperson Liu Pengyu added, “We uphold an objective and impartial stance, and have made efforts to promote peace talks. We never engage in actions that escalate conflicts.”The findings underscore growing concerns in Washington over the blurred lines between China’s commercial and military space capabilities, and their potential role in conflicts across the Middle East. Go to Source
