Report claims Iran used Chinese spy satellite to monitor US bases during conflict

A Financial Times report has claimed that Iran acquired access to a Chinese-made spy satellite in late 2024, which was allegedly used to monitor United States military installations across the Middle East during recent regional tensions.

The satellite, identified in the report as TEE-01B, was reportedly developed and launched by Chinese company Earth Eye Co. According to leaked Iranian military documents cited by the publication, the satellite was later accessed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force after reaching orbit.

The report alleges that Iranian commanders used imagery and coordinate data collected by the satellite to track several major US military bases, including facilities in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Iraq. These images were reportedly captured around March, coinciding with a period of heightened regional conflict and military exchanges.

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It further claims that Iran was granted access to commercial ground stations operated by Emposat, a Beijing-based satellite data and control services provider, enabling it to receive satellite imagery and orbital tracking data.

The Financial Times noted that the information is based on leaked documents and analysis of satellite data, and has not been independently verified. Neither US nor Chinese authorities, nor the companies named in the report, have publicly confirmed the allegations.

China’s embassy in Washington rejected the claims, calling them “speculative and insinuative disinformation.” Other involved parties, including US defense and intelligence agencies, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The report highlights growing concerns over the militarisation of commercial satellite technology and its potential role in modern conflicts, particularly in regions already facing heightened geopolitical tensions.