Iran Seeks to Enhance Ballistic Missile Targeting Capabilities Through Deals with Chinese Companies
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom
Western security officials have revealed that Iran is actively pursuing partnerships with two Chinese satellite companies. This endeavor is aimed at expanding Iran’s remote surveillance and intelligence gathering capabilities, potentially including high-resolution imagery of military targets in Israel and across the Middle East.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence, the officials stated that Iran’s courtship of these companies is under close scrutiny. There are concerns that any resulting deals could significantly enhance Iran’s ability to spy on US and Israeli military installations, as well as those belonging to its Arab rivals in the Persian Gulf.
The two companies offer a line of satellites equipped with optical equipment that is at least twice as sensitive as the most advanced satellites currently operated by Iran.
These developments come amid closer ties between Beijing and Tehran, following a 25-year political and economic cooperation agreement signed by the foreign ministers of both countries three years ago. Iran has previously sought assistance from Russia in developing a network of Iranian-controlled surveillance satellites, a collaboration that has expanded as Russia has relied on Iran as a supplier of attack drones used in its war against Ukraine.
A deal with China could provide Iran with enhanced targeting capabilities for its ballistic missile arsenal, as well as early warning systems to detect impending attacks. Iran could then be in a position to supply its allies, such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen who have launched missile attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, or Syrian and Iraqi militias responsible for drone and missile attacks on US military bases in the region, with satellite intelligence. The report mentioned that Iran has previously provided such groups with satellite imagery purchased from China.
Although there have been no reports of a formal agreement yet, the assessment described a thriving relationship between Tehran and one of the companies, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company. The two have exchanged delegations multiple times, and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps clients and officials have made extended stays in China. Chang Guang, headquartered in Changchun, Jilin Province in northeast China, manufactures small, low-cost satellites equipped with optical equipment that can still produce images with a resolution of up to 30 centimeters, a capability that rivals that of the most advanced commercial satellite companies in the United States and Europe. Iran’s Khayyam satellite produces images with a resolution of about one meter.
The assessment added that Iranian officials were also seeking commercial arrangements with Beijing-based “Minospace Technology”, which manufactures the Taijing series of remote sensing satellites, and had exchanged delegations with the company.
Neither of the two Chinese companies is subject to US or international economic sanctions. The Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite unit that conducts operations abroad, faces multiple US sanctions for alleged support of terrorist operations.
Chang Guang and Minospace did not respond to emails seeking comment. The Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York did not respond to a request for information about the alleged contacts with the Chinese companies.
Source: Washington Post
