China has dismissed as “fabricated” a report by the Financial Times alleging that Beijing provided covert satellite support to Iran to target United States military bases in the Middle East.
PM Shehbaz Sharif Begins Saudi Visit to Boost Diplomacy Amid Regional Tensions
The report claimed that Iran had secretly acquired a Chinese-made spy satellite, identified as TEE-01B, in late 2024 and used it to monitor and strike US military installations across the region. According to the report, the satellite was built and launched by Chinese firm Earth Eye Co and later operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
It further alleged that Iranian commanders used the satellite to track key US sites, including Prince Sultan Air Base, Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, and areas near the US Fifth Fleet base in Manama, as well as Erbil International Airport.
Additionally, the report said Iran had access to commercial ground stations operated by Beijing-based Emposat, enabling satellite control and data services across multiple regions.
However, China’s foreign ministry strongly denied the allegations, stating that “some forces” were fabricating rumours and linking them to China with “ulterior motives.” The Chinese embassy in Washington also rejected the claims, calling them “speculative and insinuative disinformation.”
Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the claims made in the Financial Times report. Meanwhile, the White House, Central Intelligence Agency, and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The report comes amid heightened tensions in the region following recent strikes and ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran, with concerns growing over the role of advanced surveillance and military technologies.
