Financial Times: Iran Secretly Buys Chinese Spy Satellite, Precisely Targeting US Military Bases
The Financial Times reported that Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite, TEE-01B, manufactured and launched by Earth Eye Co. The satellite, delivered to Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force in late 2024, can capture images with a resolution of about 0.5 meters and was allegedly used to monitor US military bases in the Middle East before and after attacks. This acquisition significantly upgrades Iran's reconnaissance capabilities, though Chinese and US officials have not commented.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 16:28
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 16:31 (3 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 17:56 (1h 24m after Collected)
London, April 15 (CNA) - The Financial Times reported today that Iran has secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite, giving the Islamic Republic new capabilities to target US military bases across the Middle East in recent conflicts.
The report, citing leaked Iranian military documents, states that the satellite, named TEE-01B, was manufactured and launched by the Chinese company Earth Eye Co. After its launch into space from China in late 2024, it was acquired by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force.
Earth Eye Co. describes itself as providing "in-orbit delivery" services, a little-known export model where spacecraft launched in China are transferred to overseas clients after reaching orbit.
The Financial Times, citing timestamped lists of coordinates, satellite imagery, and orbital analysis, reported that Iranian military commanders directed the satellite to monitor key US military locations. The Financial Times stated that these images were taken in March, before and after drone and missile attacks on these locations.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
According to the report, as part of the deal, the IRGC gained access to commercial ground stations operated by Beijing Emposat, a Beijing-based satellite control and data service provider with networks across Asia, Latin America, and other regions.
The White House, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Pentagon, China's Foreign Ministry and Ministry of National Defense, Earth Eye Co., and Emposat did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
The Financial Times stated that the satellite took images of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 13, 14, and 15.
On March 14, US President Trump confirmed that US military aircraft at this air base had been attacked.
According to the report, the satellite also monitored areas near the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Manama, Bahrain, and facilities at Erbil Airport in Iraq, before and after the IRGC claimed responsibility for attacks on these locations.
Documents seen by the Financial Times show that the IRGC Aerospace Force, which oversees Iran's ballistic missile, drone, and space programs, agreed in September 2024 to pay approximately 250 million yuan (about NT$1.16 billion) to gain control of this satellite system.
TEE-01B is capable of capturing images with a resolution of about half a meter, comparable to commercially available high-resolution satellite imagery in the West. This represents a significant upgrade in Iran's indigenous capabilities, allowing Iranian analysts to identify changes in aircraft, vehicles, and infrastructure.
In contrast, according to Iranian sources, the IRGC Aerospace Force's previously most advanced military satellite, "Noor-3," was estimated to be able to capture images with a resolution of about 5 meters.
While this was an improvement over the 12 to 15-meter resolution of the earlier "Noor-2" system, its accuracy was still inferior to Chinese-made satellites, insufficient to identify aircraft or monitor activities at military bases.
Earth Eye Co. states on its official website that it has made an "in-orbit" delivery to an unnamed "Belt and Road" participating country. Iran joined the "Belt and Road" initiative in 2021.
Earth Eye Co. states on its website that the satellite is designed for "agriculture, marine monitoring, emergency response management, natural resource regulation, and municipal transportation."
Jim Lamson, a former CIA analyst on Iran and now a senior fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, noted: "This is equivalent to a distributed strategy for Iran's space assets."
He added: "Iranian satellite ground stations that were hit in 2025 and 2026 could easily be struck by missiles from a thousand miles away. But you can't just go and hit a Chinese ground station in another country." (Compiled by Lee Pei-shan) 1150415
The report, citing leaked Iranian military documents, states that the satellite, named TEE-01B, was manufactured and launched by the Chinese company Earth Eye Co. After its launch into space from China in late 2024, it was acquired by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force.
Earth Eye Co. describes itself as providing "in-orbit delivery" services, a little-known export model where spacecraft launched in China are transferred to overseas clients after reaching orbit.
The Financial Times, citing timestamped lists of coordinates, satellite imagery, and orbital analysis, reported that Iranian military commanders directed the satellite to monitor key US military locations. The Financial Times stated that these images were taken in March, before and after drone and missile attacks on these locations.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
According to the report, as part of the deal, the IRGC gained access to commercial ground stations operated by Beijing Emposat, a Beijing-based satellite control and data service provider with networks across Asia, Latin America, and other regions.
The White House, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Pentagon, China's Foreign Ministry and Ministry of National Defense, Earth Eye Co., and Emposat did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
The Financial Times stated that the satellite took images of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 13, 14, and 15.
On March 14, US President Trump confirmed that US military aircraft at this air base had been attacked.
According to the report, the satellite also monitored areas near the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Manama, Bahrain, and facilities at Erbil Airport in Iraq, before and after the IRGC claimed responsibility for attacks on these locations.
Documents seen by the Financial Times show that the IRGC Aerospace Force, which oversees Iran's ballistic missile, drone, and space programs, agreed in September 2024 to pay approximately 250 million yuan (about NT$1.16 billion) to gain control of this satellite system.
TEE-01B is capable of capturing images with a resolution of about half a meter, comparable to commercially available high-resolution satellite imagery in the West. This represents a significant upgrade in Iran's indigenous capabilities, allowing Iranian analysts to identify changes in aircraft, vehicles, and infrastructure.
In contrast, according to Iranian sources, the IRGC Aerospace Force's previously most advanced military satellite, "Noor-3," was estimated to be able to capture images with a resolution of about 5 meters.
While this was an improvement over the 12 to 15-meter resolution of the earlier "Noor-2" system, its accuracy was still inferior to Chinese-made satellites, insufficient to identify aircraft or monitor activities at military bases.
Earth Eye Co. states on its official website that it has made an "in-orbit" delivery to an unnamed "Belt and Road" participating country. Iran joined the "Belt and Road" initiative in 2021.
Earth Eye Co. states on its website that the satellite is designed for "agriculture, marine monitoring, emergency response management, natural resource regulation, and municipal transportation."
Jim Lamson, a former CIA analyst on Iran and now a senior fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, noted: "This is equivalent to a distributed strategy for Iran's space assets."
He added: "Iranian satellite ground stations that were hit in 2025 and 2026 could easily be struck by missiles from a thousand miles away. But you can't just go and hit a Chinese ground station in another country." (Compiled by Lee Pei-shan) 1150415