A satellite image shows Iran’s Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) in Tehran, Iran, March 3, 2026, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
| Photo Credit: Planet Labs via Reuters
Satellite imaging firm Planet Labs said on Saturday (April 4, 2026) it will indefinitely withhold visuals of Iran and the region of conflict in the West Asia to comply with a request from the U.S. government.
Solimo 2000/1000 Watts Room Heater
Adjustable thermostat • ISI certified • Ideal for small to medium rooms
📦 Featured Product Recommendation
Below is a top-recommended product you can buy on Amazon — support us by using the link below (we earn a commission at no extra cost to you).
🔗 Buy on Amazon* Shop with confidence — Amazon Affiliate Link
RR Signature WARMAXX Room Heater
Dual heating mode • Overheat protection • 5-level safety • 2 year warranty
View on AmazonBorosil 2000W Novus Electric Fan Heater
Made in India • Variable temperature • Horizontal & vertical placement
See Details on AmazonCalifornia-based Planet Labs announced the decision in an email to customers and said the U.S. government had asked all satellite imagery providers to indefinitely withhold images of the conflict region. The restriction expands upon a 14-day delay on imagery of the West Asia that Planet Labs imposed last month, a move the firm said was meant to prevent adversaries from using it to attack the U.S. and its allies.
Planet Labs said it will withhold imagery dating back to March 9 and that it expects the policy to remain in effect until the conflict ends. The war began when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, and the conflict spread in the region when Tehran responded by launching its own attacks on Israel and U.S. bases in Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Military uses of satellite technology include target identification, weapons guidance, missile tracking and communications. Some space specialists say Iran could be accessing commercial imagery, including pictures obtained via U.S. adversaries. Satellite images also help journalists and academicians studying hard-to-reach places.
Planet Labs, which operates a large fleet of Earth-imaging satellites and sells frequently updated images to governments, companies and media, did not respond to a request for further comment.
The Pentagon said it does not comment on intelligence-related matters.
Planet Labs said in its email to customers that it would switch to a “managed distribution of images” deemed not to pose a risk to safety. Under a new system, Planet Labs will release imagery on a case-by-case basis for urgent, mission-critical requirements or in the public interest.
“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders,” the firm said.
One commercial provider, Vantor, formerly Maxar Technologies, told Reuters that it was not contacted by the U.S. government. Vantor for years has reserved the right to “implement enhanced access controls during times of geopolitical conflict” and currently has applied them for parts of the West Asia, a company spokesperson said in a statement.
Also read: Iran-Israel war LIVE updates
Those controls can include limits on who can request new images or buy existing pictures of regions where the U.S. military and its allies are “actively operating,” and areas “actively targeted by adversaries,” the spokesperson said.
One other commercial provider contacted by Reuters, BlackSky Technology, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Published – April 05, 2026 12:20 pm IST
