China has strongly rejected a Financial Times report claiming it provided covert satellite assistance to Iran during the ongoing Middle East conflict, calling the allegations “fabricated” and politically motivated.
The report alleged that Iran secretly obtained a Chinese-made spy satellite in late 2024, which was later used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to monitor and target US military installations across the region. It further claimed that the satellite, reportedly launched by a Chinese firm, provided surveillance data on several strategic American bases.
According to the report, Iranian forces used satellite imagery and orbital tracking data to observe US facilities, including Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the al-Asad base in Iraq, Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, and areas near the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The publication also alleged that the satellite activity coincided with drone and missile strikes claimed by Iranian forces.
The Financial Times further stated that Iran may have accessed commercial satellite ground services operated by a Beijing-based company, enabling enhanced monitoring capabilities. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
In response, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the allegations, stating that “some forces are fabricating rumours and maliciously linking them to China,” adding that Beijing “firmly opposes such politically motivated disinformation.”
Neither the White House, the CIA, nor the Pentagon immediately commented on the report. Companies named in the allegations also did not respond to media queries.
The report comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with ongoing military exchanges and concerns over expanding geopolitical involvement by major global powers. China has repeatedly denied providing military support to Iran in the conflict.