Satellite Firm Planet Labs To Indefinitely Withhold Iran War Images

California-based company says U.S. government asked all providers to restrict access to conflict region

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:06am

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Planet Labs, a satellite imaging firm based in California, announced it will indefinitely withhold visuals of Iran and the Middle East conflict region to comply with a request from the U.S. government. The company said the U.S. has asked all satellite imagery providers to restrict access to the area, expanding on a previous 14-day delay Planet Labs had imposed to prevent adversaries from using the images to attack the U.S. and its allies.

Why it matters

Satellite imagery has many military and intelligence uses, including target identification, weapons guidance, missile tracking, and communications. Some experts say Iran could be accessing commercial satellite imagery, including from U.S. adversaries. The move by Planet Labs to restrict access to the conflict region raises concerns about transparency and the ability of journalists, academics, and the public to monitor the situation.

The details

Planet Labs said it will withhold imagery dating back to March 9 and 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. Planet Labs will switch to a 'managed distribution of images' deemed not to pose a risk to safety, releasing imagery on a case-by-case basis for urgent, mission-critical requirements or in the public interest.

  • The U.S. government asked all satellite imagery providers to indefinitely withhold images of the conflict region.
  • Planet Labs previously imposed a 14-day delay on imagery of the Middle East last month.
  • The current withholding policy by Planet Labs began on March 9, 2026.

The players

Planet Labs

A California-based satellite imaging firm that operates a large fleet of Earth-imaging satellites and sells frequently updated images to governments, companies, and media.

U.S. Government

Has asked all satellite imagery providers to indefinitely withhold images of the conflict region in Iran and the Middle East.

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What they’re saying

“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders.”

— Planet Labs

What’s next

Planet Labs said it expects the policy of withholding imagery to remain in effect until the conflict in Iran and the Middle East ends.

The takeaway

The decision by Planet Labs to indefinitely restrict access to satellite imagery of the conflict region in Iran and the Middle East raises concerns about transparency and the ability of journalists, academics, and the public to monitor the situation. It highlights the tension between national security interests and the public's right to information during times of war.