New Delhi: Iran used a Chinese-made spy satellite to monitor and target US military bases in the Middle East during the recent conflict, according to a Financial Times investigation citing leaked Iranian military documents and satellite data.Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson rejected the claims, saying, “Media reports accusing China of providing military aid to Iran are completely fabricated. If the US moves forward with tariff hikes on China based on these allegations, China will respond with retaliatory measures.”The satellite, named TEE-01B, was secretly acquired by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force in late 2024 after being launched from China, the report said. Built by Chinese firm Earth Eye Company, the satellite was transferred into orbit under a little-known export model described as “in-orbit delivery”.Leaked documents, including time-stamped coordinate logs, imagery and orbital analysis, show that Iranian commanders used satellites to monitor key US military facilities before and after missile and drone attacks in March.Sites surveyed included Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, which was photographed by satellite on March 13, 14 and 15. On March 14, US President Donald Trump confirmed that US aircraft stationed there had been affected, with five US Air Force refueling aircraft damaged.The satellite also monitored Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, areas near the US Fifth Fleet Base in Manama, Bahrain, Erbil Airport in Iraq, as well as Camp Buehring and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Additional targets include Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti and Duqm International Airport in Oman.Civil infrastructure in the Gulf was also observed, including the Khor Fakkan container port and the Qidafa power and desalination plant in the UAE, as well as the Alba aluminum facility in Bahrain, the report further said.Under the agreement, the IRGC received access to ground control infrastructure operated by Emposat, a Beijing-based provider with a global network. This enabled Iran to operate the satellite remotely, receive imagery, and conduct missions directly from multiple locations.According to the documents, in September 2024, the IRGC Aerospace Force agreed to pay about Rmb250 million, or about $36.6 million, for the satellite system, which included launch, technical support and data services.Experts said the satellite marks a major upgrade in Iran’s capabilities. Nicole Grajewski said, “This satellite is clearly being used for military purposes, as it is being operated by the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, not by Iran’s civilian space program.” “Iran really needs this foreign-provided capability during this war, because it allows the IRGC to identify targets ahead of time and verify the success of its attacks,” he said.The TEE-01B is capable of capturing imagery at approximately half-meter resolution, which is significantly sharper than Iran’s earlier systems such as the Noor-3, which offered about 5-meter resolution and could not clearly identify aircraft or detailed activity at bases.Analysts say the arrangement also reflects a broader strategy to protect Iran’s space assets. Jim Lamson said, “This is similar to Iran’s strategy of dispersing its space assets.” “Iran’s satellite ground stations, which were attacked in 2025 and 2026, can be very easily attacked by missiles from a thousand miles away. You cannot attack a Chinese ground station located in another country,” he said.Israel’s military has said it attacked several Iranian space and satellite-related facilities during the conflict, including a major research center linked to the Iranian space program.This development comes amid deepening cooperation between Iran, China and Russia in the space sector. China has positioned its commercial space sector as the civilian sector, although analysts point to growth in dual-use applications.US officials have previously raised concerns about Chinese satellite companies aiding actors hostile to US interests. The Financial Times previously reported that Chang Guang Satellite Technology had provided imagery to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.Emposat has also examined its connections to China’s military ecosystem. It was identified in a report by the US House China Committee as being linked to the People’s Liberation Army Aerospace Force.Aidan Powers-Riggs said, “Amposat is a rising star in China’s commercial space sector, but it is still a product of the state and military establishment.” “It was founded by veterans of China’s state-run space program and was financed by investments from the national military-civilian fusion fund.”Former US intelligence officials have also suggested that Beijing’s support for Tehran may be part of a broader strategic calculation. Dennis Wilder said China has historically provided military assistance to Iran, including anti-ship missiles used in the Strait of Hormuz.A person familiar with the matter said the US has indications that China is considering supplying Iran with the shoulder-fired missiles that were reportedly used to shoot down a US fighter plane. The Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment, and the White House did not directly address the satellite link.Responding to questions, China’s embassy in Washington said, “We firmly oppose relevant parties spreading speculation and misleading misinformation against China.” Spokesman Liu Pengyu said, “We maintain an objective and impartial stance, and have made efforts to promote peace talks. We never engage in actions that escalate conflict.”The findings underscore growing concerns in Washington over the blurred lines between China’s commercial and military space capabilities and their potential role in conflicts in the Middle East.