By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Report says Iran used a Chinese satellite in strikes as Beijing rejects allegations of providing military or intelligence support.

Key Developments

• Report says Iran used a Chinese satellite to monitor and strike US bases across the Middle East.
• China rejects allegations of involvement, calling claims of support “untrue” and politically motivated.
• Satellite imagery reportedly enhanced Iran’s targeting capabilities during military operations.

Iran Satellite Use

China has rejected allegations that it provided military or intelligence support to Iran, as a report by the Financial Times claimed that Tehran used a Chinese-built satellite to monitor and target US military bases across the Middle East during recent hostilities.

“The relevant reports are untrue,” China’s Foreign Ministry said, adding that “certain forces have been keen to fabricate rumours and maliciously link them to China,” while also stating that the war itself “should never have happened.”

Leaked Iranian military documents claim that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force acquired the satellite, known as TEE-01B, in late 2024 after it was launched from China.

The alleged documents include time-stamped coordinate lists, satellite imagery, and orbital analysis indicating that Iranian commanders tasked the system with monitoring key US military installations ahead of missile and drone strikes.

Images were captured both before and after attacks, allowing Iranian forces to assess the effectiveness of their operations, the newspaper reported.

The satellite was used to monitor multiple US military sites across the region, including Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, where US President Donald Trump confirmed that American aircraft had been hit.

According to the alleged documents, it also conducted surveillance of facilities in Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Djibouti, and Oman, in addition to tracking civilian infrastructure such as ports and energy facilities in the Gulf.

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Satellite Targeting Capability

The system represents a significant upgrade over Iran’s domestic satellite capabilities, according to the Financial Times.

The TEE-01B is capable of capturing imagery at approximately half-meter resolution, allowing analysts to identify aircraft, vehicles, and changes to infrastructure.

By contrast, Iran’s Noor-3 satellite is estimated to capture imagery at around five-meter resolution, limiting its ability to monitor detailed military activity.

“This satellite is clearly being used for military purposes,” said Nicole Grajewski, an Iran expert at Sciences Po, noting that it is operated by the IRGC’s Aerospace Force rather than a civilian program.

She added that the system allows Iranian forces “to identify targets ahead of time and check the success of its strikes.”

The satellite was built and launched by Earth Eye Co, a Chinese company that promotes what it describes as an “in-orbit delivery” model, under which satellites launched from China are transferred to overseas clients after deployment.

Under the agreement, the IRGC gained access to ground infrastructure operated by Beijing-based Emposat, allowing Iranian operators to control the satellite and receive imagery through a global network.

The documents reportedly reviewed by the Financial Times indicate that Iran agreed to pay approximately 250 million yuan, or $36.6 million, for the system, including technical support, data infrastructure, and operational services.

The arrangement allows Iranian satellite operations to rely on infrastructure located outside the country. “You can’t just hit a Chinese ground station located in another country,” said Jim Lamson, a former CIA analyst.

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China Iran Coordination

The reported use of the satellite comes alongside broader indications of coordination between China and Iran during the war.

US intelligence assessments cited by Reuters indicated that China was preparing to provide Iran with additional military capabilities, including shoulder-fired anti-air missiles, although no confirmed delivery has been publicly verified.

At the same time, China publicly opposed US efforts to impose a maritime blockade on Iran and warned against escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, calling for continued negotiations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran as “very fragile” and called for sustained diplomatic efforts.

Reuters also reported that China played a role in encouraging Iran to engage in ceasefire arrangements mediated through Pakistan, reflecting Beijing’s growing involvement in regional diplomacy.

(FT, PC, AA, Chinese Media)