Satellite companies restrict access to Middle East imagery amid Iran war

The US-based companies say they were not instructed by any government to restrict image access

Posted Thursday, March 12, 2026 10:25 am

Maegan Vazquez | The Washington Post

Two leading spatial intelligence companies say they are restricting access to satellite images of the Middle East in response to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Planet Labs and Vantor, which are based in the United States and have federal contracts, say they were not ordered by any government to restrict image access. The Pentagon declined to comment Wednesday.

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Satellite companies restrict access to Middle East imagery amid Iran war

The US-based companies say they were not instructed by any government to restrict image access

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