|
Trending Topics
|
How Chinese Satellites Support Iran
(Hudson Institute) Can Kasapoglu - During the recent war, Iran's Revolutionary Guards targeted high-value U.S. military assets across the region, from strategic aircraft to expensive radar sites. They were likely cued by foreign space-based targeting data. Open-source indicators suggest that satellite imagery and geospatial-intelligence support from the People's Republic of China helped Tehran identify and prioritize critical American capabilities. In May 2026, the Trump administration sanctioned several China-based firms for providing satellite imagery that enabled Iranian strikes against U.S. forces. China-based MizarVision published open-source imagery of U.S. activity during the war, while Earth Eye, a Chinese remote-sensing entity, provided satellite imagery directly to Tehran. Chang Guang Satellite Technology, linked to the People's Liberation Army, collected and supplied Iran with imagery of U.S. and allied military facilities. In April 2025, the U.S. State Department announced that Chang Guang had supported the Houthis in targeting maritime activity in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.