Iran has allegedly leveraged a clandestine, Chinese-made spy satellite to track U.S. military bases throughout the Middle East, according to a report published by the Financial Times and cited by La Tercera. The satellite, identified as the TEE-01B and constructed by Earth Eye Co., was reportedly integrated into the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' aerospace force in late 2024.
Leaked military documents, including orbital analysis and specific satellite imagery, suggest the system was used to observe key installations, including the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the Muwaffaq Salti base in Jordan, and areas near the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The imagery appears to correlate with drone and missile strikes attributed to Iran in March. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on March 14 that American aircraft were hit at the Prince Sultan facility.
Tehran reportedly gained access to commercial ground stations operated by Emposat, a firm with global operations, to manage the satellite and process collected data. As of April 15, the White House, the CIA, the Pentagon, and Chinese authorities have declined to comment on the allegations.
Diplomatic isolation and financial demands
Beyond military maneuvers, Tehran is escalating its diplomatic and financial demands. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani stated via Russia’s RIA Novosti that Iran has suffered approximately $270 billion in direct and indirect damages since the U.S.-Israel war began on February 28. Iran’s envoy to the United Nations has further demanded that five regional nations provide compensation, alleging their territories facilitated the attacks.
President Trump has meanwhile widened his diplomatic rift with European allies. In an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Trump criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her refusal to join the conflict, stating, “I’m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong.”
Trump’s frustration extends to the broader NATO alliance, which he dismissed as a “paper tiger.” Regarding Meloni’s position, the U.S. president claimed, “She’s unacceptable because she doesn’t mind that Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if they had the chance.” The U.S. leader also criticized European nations for their perceived lack of commitment to securing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor where Iran has proposed a new tax on passing vessels to recoup its alleged war losses.
