China Denies Reports of Iranian Use of Its Satellites for Attacks
On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed claims that Iran utilized Chinese reconnaissance satellites to target U.S. military bases during “Operation Epic Fury.” The allegations gained traction following a report from the Financial Times (FT), which indicated that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), labeled a terrorist organization, gained access to a Chinese satellite named TEE-01B in late 2024.
This assertion is difficult for China to counter, chiefly because it relies on leaked Iranian military documents. These documents reportedly indicate that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were assigned to manage satellites and keep watch on U.S. military sites both before and after their attacks in March.
Further details from the leaked documents provided “time-stamped lists of coordinates, satellite imagery, and orbit analysis,” showing that the Chinese satellites were monitoring locations such as Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base, Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, the U.S. 5th Fleet Naval Base in Bahrain, and Erbil Airport in Iraq.
The Revolutionary Guards asserted that Chinese satellites played a significant role in observing these sites, which came under attack shortly after former President Donald Trump confirmed that five U.S. military refueling planes were damaged at the Saudi air base.
Additionally, Chinese satellites reportedly gathered intelligence on U.S. air bases in Kuwait, the Camp Lemonnier base in Djibouti, and an airport in Oman. Data concerning civilian infrastructure in the UAE and Bahrain was also collected. Throughout Operation Epic Fury, unprovoked attacks on infrastructure in neighboring countries continued even after a ceasefire was declared.
According to the FT, the satellite in question was developed and launched by Earth Eye, a Chinese company that specializes in offering satellite controls to foreign buyers post-launch. Notably, the report highlighted that Earth Eye stated on its website that it had conducted an “in-orbit” mission to an unnamed country involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which Iran joined in 2021.
The original buyer, as listed on Earth Eye’s website, supposedly intended to use the satellite for purposes like agriculture, maritime surveillance, and emergency management. The FT mentioned that the deal included “access to commercial ground stations” associated with a Beijing-based satellite control provider.
Regardless of the buyer’s identity, leaked documents show that the IRGC Aerospace Forces paid around $36 million for control of the satellite in September 2024, a transaction completed in Chinese renminbi, and documented with a signature from a General of the IRGC Aerospace Forces.
A former CIA analyst commented that the deal was appealing to the Revolutionary Guards because while Iran’s own satellite ground stations were vulnerable to missile attacks from afar, U.S. and Israeli forces would be hesitant to target Chinese stations.
This revelation is particularly embarrassing for China, which has positioned itself as a responsible member of the international community. Reports of a clandestine agreement allowing Iranian use of Chinese satellites for attacks against American targets would certainly tarnish that image.
China’s government has yet to issue a direct challenge to the specifics of the claims but has issued statements that vaguely deny the investigative report without outright contesting its findings. As per the ministry, “some forces have been eager to fabricate false rumors and malignly associate China,” reiterating its opposition to such actions.
Efforts to reach the White House, CIA, or Pentagon for comments were unsuccessful, indicating that international diplomatic maneuvers could be underway behind the scenes. Nonetheless, a White House representative reminded that President Trump has threatened significant repercussions for China should it provide military assistance to Iran.
In recent remarks, Trump warned that if China supplied advanced weaponry to Iran, it could face steep tariffs. He mentioned a potential 50% tariff if advanced shoulder-launched missiles were involved, which, he argued, would represent a major issue for China.
Another concern for China is the growing accuracy of Iran’s missile strikes. If this enhancement is linked to the utilization of Chinese satellite technology, the strain in U.S.-China relations may intensify, complicating matters for Gulf Arab states threatened by Iranian actions.
