Media: Iran allegedly uses Chinese satellite to target US bases

Istanbul (ANTARA) - Iran is reported to be using a Chinese-made spy satellite to target United States (US) military bases in the Middle East in a war triggered by US and Israeli attacks, according to claims by the British newspaper Financial Times on Wednesday (15/4).

The media outlet stated that the report is based on leaked military documents, satellite imagery, and orbit analysis, which reveal the use of a Chinese-made satellite to monitor US military locations.

According to the analysis, the TEE-01B satellite, produced by China-based company Earth Eye and launched into space in late 2024, is suspected to have been purchased by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after its launch.

Orbit checks show that the spy satellite, capable of producing images with a resolution of around half a metre, was positioned over US military bases during drone and missile attacks.

The monitored targets reportedly include US military facilities in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Iraq.

The report states that satellite images were recorded just before and after the drone and missile attacks, indicating that the satellite was likely used to help guide the strikes.

Iran is also said in the Financial Times report to have obtained permission to use ground stations owned by Beijing-based company Emposat, allowing access to satellite data not only from its own territory but also through a network spanning from Asia to Latin America.

Experts assess this situation as a major development in Iran’s military intelligence capabilities and state that such large-scale technology transfer is unlikely to occur without Beijing’s approval.

US President Donald Trump has previously stated that he is considering imposing 50 per cent tariffs on countries providing military support to Iran.