The Iranian regime is reportedly in negotiations with two Chinese companies that specialize in building small satellites equipped with high-resolution cameras, a move aimed at strengthening the regime's surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities and providing detailed pictures of military targets in Israel and across the Middle East.
According to the Washington Post, US, European and Middle Eastern officials have expressed concern that the cooperation could significantly strengthen the Iranian regime's ability to monitor US, Israeli and Arab military facilities in the Persian Gulf.
The satellites under discussion would be equipped with equipment that boasts at least twice the sensitivity of Iran's current satellite technology. The potential deal has emerged in the context of strengthening ties between Tehran and Beijing, which were formalized three years ago with a 25-year contract. The Iranian regime previously received assistance from Russia in developing its surveillance satellite network.
Confidential reports have said the deal with China could give the Iranian regime new capabilities in ballistic missile targeting and attack warning systems, raising concerns that such technology could be shared with Iranian-allied groups.
Although no official agreement has been announced, relations between the Iranian regime and Changguang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. have grown, with exchanges of delegations by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel and several extended visits to China. Changguang produces satellites capable of capturing images with a resolution of 30 centimeters, comparable to advanced U.S. and European commercial satellites.
The government is also exploring cooperation with Minospace, another Chinese company that manufactures the Taijing series of satellites. None of these Chinese companies are currently subject to U.S. or international sanctions.
Military ties between Iran and China weakened in the mid-2000s due to sanctions pressures related to Iran's nuclear program, but have improved in recent years, including agreements on navigation and missile systems.
China is now the largest buyer of Iranian oil products, with bilateral trade reaching $32 billion last year, but that figure is still lower than China's trade with Iran's main Persian Gulf rivals, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Despite the improved relations, Chinese officials remain cautious to avoid escalating tensions with Iran's neighbors and the risk of international sanctions against Chinese companies. China is also trying to avoid a conflict that could disrupt vital oil routes in the Persian Gulf.
China has so far not publicly condemned the actions of the regime, which is the main warmonger in the region, and its proxies.
Analysts suggest that China could justify its cooperation with Iran's space program on a civilian basis, because surveillance satellites have many non-military uses, such as environmental monitoring and disaster management.
From China's perspective, working with the Iranian regime on surveillance technology doesn't constitute arms sales, making such cooperation more likely, said Gary Samoa, a former senior arms control adviser in the Clinton and Obama administrations, who added that China is trying to stay out of political issues to avoid jeopardizing its relationships with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, Russia remains a major backer of Iran's space program. Since 2022, Russia has launched at least two Iran surveillance satellites, including Pars-1, which was launched into orbit on Russia's Soyuz-2 rocket in February.
The Iranian regime claimed to have successfully launched four satellites in January, including three communications satellites and one IRGC surveillance satellite.
This potential collaboration with the Chinese satellite maker marks a significant step in efforts to bolster the Iranian regime's surveillance capabilities, raising concerns among regional and global powers about the implications for Middle East security.
