Trump Administration Orders U.S. Satellite Firm to Block Iran War Imagery Indefinitely
Satellite imaging company Planet Labs has confirmed it will indefinitely suspend the release of satellite imagery covering Iran and sections of the broader Middle East, following a directive linked to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The development was disclosed in a customer email on Saturday, with details obtained by PulseNets indicating that the firm was instructed by U.S. authorities to implement an “indefinite withhold of imagery,” a move earlier reported by Al Jazeera through multiple news agencies.
This latest restriction marks a sharp escalation from prior measures. PulseNets learnt that the company had initially imposed a 96-hour delay on regional imagery last month, a policy later extended to 14 days. At the time, Planet Labs explained that the delay was designed to prevent hostile actors from leveraging near real-time satellite intelligence to strike U.S. and allied targets.
Under the revised framework, imagery dating back to March 9 will now be withheld entirely. PulseNets reported that the company expects the suspension to remain in force throughout the duration of the ongoing conflict.
The crisis traces back to February 28, when the United States, in coordination with Israel, carried out aerial strikes on Iranian positions. Since then, tensions have intensified, with Iran launching retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli territory, U.S. installations, and civilian infrastructure across Gulf states.
Planet Labs, established in 2010 by former NASA scientists, confirmed in its communication to clients that it will transition to a “managed distribution of images,” effectively restricting access to sensitive data.
According to information obtained by PulseNets, the company will now assess requests individually, releasing only imagery that meets strict security thresholds while prioritising urgent and mission-critical demands, particularly those aligned with public interest considerations.
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“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders,” the company stated.
Satellite intelligence remains a cornerstone of contemporary warfare, enabling precision targeting, weapons navigation, missile detection, and secure operational communications across theatres of conflict.
