LONDON — A high-stakes intelligence leak has revealed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) utilized a secretly acquired Chinese spy satellite to orchestrate precision strikes against U.S. military installations during the recent five-week regional conflict. According to an investigation published on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 by the Financial Times, leaked Iranian military documents confirm that the TEE-01B satellite provided the IRGC with high-resolution imagery used to map targets in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and Bahrain.

The documents detail a significant leap in Iran's reconnaissance capabilities. Previously limited to satellite resolutions of 5 to 15 meters, the acquisition of the Chinese-built TEE-01B allowed the IRGC to access 0.5-meter resolution imagery. This level of detail enabled Iranian commanders to clearly differentiate between aircraft types, fuel depots, and specific administrative buildings.

The total value of the agreement is reportedly $36.6 million, a deal that granted Iran not only the hardware—manufactured by the Chinese firm Earth Eye Co—but also access to a global network of commercial ground stations managed by the Beijing-based service provider Emposat.

Leaked files containing time-stamped coordinate lists and orbital analysis show a direct correlation between the satellite's activity and recent hostilities. The TEE-01B was specifically directed to monitor Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia just as a missile strike damaged U.S. aircraft, as well as Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan shortly before drone swarms targeted F-15E and A-10 positions.

Additionally, the satellite tracked U.S. Fifth Fleet naval movements near Manama, Bahrain, coinciding with the strikes on February 28.

The revelation comes at a fragile moment for international relations. While a two-week ceasefire was announced last Wednesday, the proof of direct Chinese technological assistance to the IRGC has sparked outrage in Washington.

Beijing has consistently denied providing weapons to any party in the conflict. However, the Financial Times report suggests that while China may not have provided "kinetic" weapons, the provision of high-end dual-use space technology functioned as a force multiplier for Iran's missile program.

Intelligence analysts suggest that the IRGC’s ability to bypass U.S. jamming efforts by using a third-party commercial satellite network created a significant blind spot for American air defenses. By the time the TEE-01B was identified as a dedicated IRGC asset, the "damage to U.S. regional reconnaissance and physical infrastructure had already been done," according to the report.

As the White House and the Pentagon review the leaked data, the discovery is expected to dominate the upcoming summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping, with the U.S. likely to push for severe sanctions against the Chinese companies involved in the satellite deal.