China gave Iran access to one of its most advanced military spy satellites, allowing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to launch missiles and drones to strike US Air Force bases and other sensitive targets across the Persian Gulf, the Financial Times reports.
According to the investigation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps achieved a significant leap in its regional strike capabilities through the covert deployment of a Chinese-made spy satellite used to plan and coordinate attacks on US military facilities.
The satellite, identified as TEE-01B, was reportedly transferred to the Revolutionary Guard's air force through a sophisticated "delivery in orbit" program after being launched from Chinese territory in late 2024.
The investigation found that the satellite was used to capture detailed images of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia just hours before and after a missile strike on March 14. That specific attack, later confirmed by President Donald Trump, caused damage to five US Air Force refueling aircraft.
Beyond Saudi Arabia, TEE-01B reportedly provided the Revolutionary Guard with a stream of intelligence on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and logistics hubs such as Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.
The surveillance also extended to critical civilian infrastructure, including major desalination facilities in the United Arab Emirates and massive aluminum smelters in Bahrain.
