https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/satellite-firm-planet-labs-indefinitely-withhold-iran-war-images-2026-04-05/ Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals Learn more aboutRefinitiv * World Browse World + Africa + Americas + Asia Pacific + China + Europe + India + Iran War + Israel and Hamas at War + Japan + Middle East + Ukraine and Russia at War + United Kingdom + United States + Reuters NEXT New York * Business Browse Business + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Davos + Energy + Environment + Finance + Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals + Media & Telecom + Retail & Consumer + Future of Health + Future of Money + Take Five + World at Work * Markets Browse Markets + On the Money + Asian Markets + Carbon Markets + Commodities + Currencies + Deals + Emerging Markets + ETFs + European Markets + Funds + Econ World + Global Market Data + Rates & Bonds + Stocks + U.S. Markets + Wealth * Sustainability Browse Sustainability + Boards, Policy & Regulation + Climate & Energy + Land Use & Biodiversity + Society & Equity + Sustainable Finance & Reporting + The Switch + Reuters Impact + COP30 * More Legal + Government + Legal Industry + Litigation + Transactional + US Supreme Court Commentary + Breakingviews Predictions + Breakingviews + ROI: Reuters Open Interest Technology + Artificial Intelligence + Cybersecurity + Space + Disrupted Investigations Sports + Athletics + Baseball + Basketball + Cricket + Cycling + Formula 1 + Golf + NFL + NHL + Soccer + Tennis Science Lifestyle + Culture Current City Memo Graphics + Chart of the Week Pictures Wider Image Podcasts + Reuters World News + Reuters Morning Bid + Reuters Econ World + On Assignment + Viewsroom + The Big View Live Fact Check Video Media Center + Announcements + Awards + Inside the Newsroom + People News Sponsored Content + Reuters Plus + Press Releases Subscribe Satellite firm Planet Labs to indefinitely withhold Iran war images By Ismail Shakil April 5, 202612:35 AM UTCUpdated ago * * * * * * * * A satellite image shows Iran's Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) in Tehran A satellite image shows Iran's Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) in Tehran, Iran, March 3, 2026, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab * Summary * Companies * Planet Labs will release images only on case-by-case basis for urgent or public interest needs * Satellite imagery of hard-to-reach areas useful for news media, researchers * Other providers like Vantor apply their own controls but were not contacted by U.S. government WASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) - Satellite imaging firm Planet Labs said on Saturday it will indefinitely withhold visuals of Iran and the region of conflict in the Middle East to comply with a request from the U.S. government. California-based Planet Labs (PL.N), opens new tab 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. Sign up here. The restriction expands upon a 14-day delay on imagery of the Middle East 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 Middle East, a company spokesperson said in a statement. 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 (BKSY.N), opens new tab, did not immediately return a request for comment. 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