The Financial Times published an investigation on Wednesday claiming Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) acquired a Chinese satellite to help its forces target US military bases across the Middle East.

The FT said it obtained “leaked Iranian military documents” which showed the satellite was acquired in late 2024 after it was launched into space by Earth Eye Co, a company in China whose website says it offers “in orbit delivery” systems.

The FT said the documents also showed the IRGC was granted access to commercial ground stations operated by Emposat, a Beijing-based provider of satellite control and data services.

According to FT, when asked whether the Chinese government had any knowledge about the relationship between Emposat and the IRGC, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said: “We firmly oppose relevant parties spreading speculative and insinuative disinformation against China.”

The FT reported the data provided Iran with much higher resolution imagery than its own satellites could offer and helped Iranian forces target or survey US military bases in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman and Djibouti

CNN has reached out to Earth Eye and Emposat for comment. The FT said both did not respond to requests for comment on their investigation.

Scrutiny of relationship: The use of Chinese satellite technology to target US forces would prove controversial at a time when US President Donald Trump is preparing to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing next month.

This week, CNN reported US intelligence indicated that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.

Asked by CNN about the US intelligence and whether he has spoken to Xi about the issue, Trump indicated that Beijing would face consequences if it sent weapons to Tehran.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington told CNN, “China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict; the information in question is untrue.”