Washington Post: The Islamic Republic Collaborates with China in the Field of Spy Satellites

The Islamic Republic is negotiating with two Chinese companies specializing in the production of small satellites equipped with powerful cameras aimed at "enhancing surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities." These satellites will help the Islamic Republic obtain high-resolution images of military targets in Israel and the Middle East. According to the Washington Post, American, European, and Middle Eastern officials are concerned that these collaborations will strengthen the Islamic Republic's ability to spy on U.S. military facilities, Israel, and Arab rivals in the Persian Gulf. These satellites are equipped with technology that is at least twice as sensitive as Iran's current satellites. The report indicates that these relations are expanding under the closer cooperation between Tehran and Beijing, which began three years ago with the signing of a 25-year agreement. The Islamic Republic had previously sought assistance from Russia to develop a network of surveillance satellites. Confidential reports suggest that a potential agreement with China could provide the Islamic Republic with new capabilities in targeting ballistic missiles and warning systems against attacks. These capabilities may be transferred to Iran's allied groups. The Washington Post states that no formal agreement has been reported yet, but relations between the Islamic Republic and the "Chang Guang" company are progressing, with several delegations exchanged and a long-term presence of IRGC forces in China. This company produces satellites that provide images with a resolution of 30 centimeters, comparable to the most advanced American and European commercial satellites. The Islamic Republic is also seeking collaboration with another company called "Mino Space," which produces "Tai Jing" series satellites. Neither of these two Chinese companies is under U.S. or international economic sanctions. Military relations between Iran and China had declined since the mid-2000s due to sanctions pressure on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, but have improved in recent years, including agreements on navigation equipment and missile systems. China is now the largest buyer of Iranian oil, with trade between the two countries reaching $32 billion last year. However, this figure is lower compared to China's trade with Iran's major rivals in the Persian Gulf, namely Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Although relations between Beijing and Tehran are improving, Chinese officials continue to act cautiously to avoid escalating tensions with the Islamic Republic's neighbors or triggering international sanctions against Chinese companies. China also avoids any conflict that could lead to the closure of vital oil routes in the Persian Gulf. Following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, China has criticized the U.S. role in the region several times and called for an end to violence from all parties. So far, China has not publicly condemned Hamas, which is supported by the Islamic Republic. Analysts believe that China may justify its cooperation with the Islamic Republic's space program under a civilian cover. Surveillance satellites have numerous civilian applications such as environmental monitoring and crisis management. Gary Samore, a former senior arms control advisor in the Clinton and Obama administrations, states: "From China's perspective, cooperation with the Islamic Republic in surveillance technology does not equate to providing weapons, so the likelihood of these collaborations is high." He added, "China seeks to stay away from political issues to avoid jeopardizing its relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE." Meanwhile, Russia remains the main supporter of the Islamic Republic's space program. Since 2022, Russia has launched at least two Iranian surveillance satellites into space, including the "Pars-1" satellite, which was sent into orbit in February using a Russian Soyuz-2 rocket. The Islamic Republic claims to have successfully launched four satellites in January, three of which were telecommunications satellites and the fourth was an IRGC surveillance satellite.