Satellite Firm Says It Will Indefinitely Withhold Iran War Images After US Request

Satellite imaging firm Planet Labs said Saturday that it would indefinitely withhold visuals of Iran and the region of the ongoing conflict in West Asia in line with a request from the U.S. government, news agency Reuters reported.

The California-based company announced the decision in an email to customers, saying the US government had asked all satellite imagery providers to withhold images of the conflict region indefinitely.

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According to the report, the restriction expands upon a 14-day delay on imagery of the region that Planet Labs imposed last month, asserting the decision was to prevent adversaries from using it to attack the facilities linked to the U.S. and its allies. The company said it expects the policy to remain

in force until the conflict ends.

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As outlined in the email, the company highlighted it 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,” it said, according to Reuters. 

Planet Labs operates a large fleet of Earth-imaging satellites and sells frequently updated images to governments, media, and companies.

West Asia Conflict 

The war in West Asia, which started on February 28 following the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has led to thousands of deaths in the region and triggered an energy crisis.

Back in March, Tehran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint that accounts for nearly one-fifth of the global oil and gas trade.