TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Satellite imaging company Planet Labs has stated that it will withhold the publication of images of Iran and conflict regions in the Middle East for an unspecified period. This decision was made to comply with the request from the United States President, Donald Trump.
The decision was communicated via email to customers on Saturday, April 4, 2026. In their statement, the company mentioned that the U.S. government had requested that all satellite image providers implement an indefinite hold on image distribution.
This move expands upon the previous policy of delaying image distribution for 14 days, which was an extension of the initial 96-hour delay. Planet Labs stated that the restriction is intended to prevent adversaries from using satellite images in attacks against the U.S. and its allies.
Quoting Al Jazeera, Planet Labs announced that the satellite imaging hold has been in place since March 9, 2026, and is expected to remain in effect until the conflict ends. The war with Iran itself began on February 28, 2028, after the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which prompted Tehran's retaliatory strikes on Israel, U.S. military assets, and civilian infrastructure in the Gulf region.
Planet Labs, founded in 2010 by former NASA scientists, will transition to a limited image distribution system that only covers material deemed not risky to security. Under this new scheme, image access will be selectively provided based on urgent needs, mission interests, or public interest.
"These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders," the California-based company stated.
Amid this situation, the use of satellite technology is crucial in military operations, ranging from target identification to missile tracking. Some analysts believe that commercial images could potentially be exploited by parties involved in the conflict.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon refused to comment on intelligence issues. Vantor, another image provider, stated that it did not receive a similar request despite having access restriction policies in conflict zones. Another company, BlackSky Technology, has not responded, as reported by Al-Monitor.
Satellite technology also plays a crucial role in target identification, weapon guidance, missile tracking, and communication. Some experts believe Iran could potentially access commercial images through third parties. On the other hand, satellite images are also a vital source for journalists and academics to observe hard-to-reach areas.
Read: Iranian Media Claims UAE Entered War Against Iran
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