Planet Labs announced on Saturday that it will halt the release of satellite images covering Iran and the broader Middle East conflict zone indefinitely, citing a request from the United States government.
The California-based company informed customers via email that authorities had urged all commercial satellite imagery providers to stop sharing visuals from the region for an unspecified period.
The new directive significantly extends a previous 14-day delay the company had already implemented last month on imagery from the Middle East.
At the time, Planet Labs said the temporary restriction was intended to prevent hostile actors from exploiting the data to carry out attacks against the United States and its allies.
Under the updated policy, the company confirmed it will withhold imagery dating back to March 9 and expects the measure to remain in place until the conflict concludes.
The ongoing war traces back to February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
The situation escalated as Tehran retaliated with attacks targeting Israel as well as U.S. military bases across Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Satellite imagery plays a critical role in modern military operations, supporting functions such as identifying targets, guiding weapons systems, tracking missile activity, and enabling communications.
Analysts have raised concerns that Iran may be accessing commercially available satellite data, potentially through intermediaries aligned with U.S. adversaries. Beyond military use, such imagery is also widely relied upon by journalists and researchers studying remote or restricted regions.
Planet Labs, which operates one of the world’s largest fleets of Earth-observation satellites and provides high-frequency imaging services to governments, businesses, and media organizations, did not respond to further inquiries. Meanwhile, the Pentagon declined to comment, stating it does not address intelligence-related matters.
In its communication to clients, Planet Labs indicated it would transition to a “managed distribution of images” considered safe for release. The company said imagery would now be made available selectively, assessed on a case-by-case basis for urgent, mission-critical needs or where there is a clear public interest.
“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders,” the firm said.
Another commercial provider, Vantor, told Reuters it had not received any direct request from the U.S. government. However, the company noted it has long maintained the authority to impose stricter access controls during geopolitical crises and has already applied such measures to parts of the Middle East.
According to a company spokesperson, these restrictions may limit who can request new satellite images or purchase existing ones, particularly in areas where U.S. forces and allies are actively engaged or regions under active threat.
A third provider, BlackSky Technology, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
