According to the report, the satellite, identified as TEE-01B and developed by Earth Eye Co., was acquired in late 2024 by the Aerospace Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after being launched from China.

The newspaper said Iranian commanders directed the satellite to track key U.S. military installations, citing time-stamped coordinates, orbital analysis and imagery purportedly showing surveillance activity before and after missile and drone strikes carried out in March.

The report added that Iran gained access to satellite control infrastructure through Emposat, a Beijing-based firm operating commercial ground stations across multiple regions, enabling data transmission and operational support.China’s foreign ministry denied the allegations, saying in a statement that claims linking Beijing to the reported activities were fabricated.

“Recently, some forces have been keen on fabricating rumors and maliciously associating them to China,” the ministry said, adding that China “firmly opposes this kind of practice driven by ulterior motives.”Reuters could not independently verify the Financial Times report.

The development, if confirmed, would underscore the increasing role of commercial satellite capabilities in modern conflict, particularly in providing real-time intelligence for targeting and surveillance operations.

The Israeli military reported that multiple missiles were launched toward the country, triggering defensive responses. Emergency services said an unintercepted cluster missile caused damage to residential buildings and vehicles, while military radio reported shrapnel damage to a train station in Tel Aviv. No immediate casualties were reported.

The strikes are part of an escalating conflict that began more than a month ago following joint U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran that have spread across the region.

Donald Trump reiterated warnings of intensified U.S. military action, stating that further strikes on Iranian infrastructure were imminent. His comments came amid ongoing exchanges between the two sides and rising concerns over the scope of the conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said attacks on civilian infrastructure would not force Iran to concede, underscoring Tehran’s stance as hostilities continue.

The conflict has increasingly targeted economic and industrial assets, raising concerns over broader disruptions to global energy supplies. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, has become a focal point after Iran moved to restrict maritime traffic.

Diplomatic efforts to address the situation remain uncertain, with a planned vote at the United Nations Security Council on authorizing protective measures for shipping recently postponed.

Iran has warned of further retaliatory measures, while U.S. officials have indicated that military operations could intensify if a negotiated settlement is not reached.

Air defense systems were activated following the first barrage, with police and emergency services responding to several locations in the Tel Aviv area.

Israeli media, citing medics, reported that four people sustained light injuries. Police said officers were deployed to multiple impact sites, with local reports indicating as many as nine locations affected.Israeli media said the spread of damage across a relatively wide area suggested the possible use of cluster munitions, which detonate mid-air and disperse smaller bomblets.

There was no immediate independent confirmation of the type of munitions used.Less than two hours after the initial attack, the military reported a second wave of missiles launched from Iran, triggering air raid sirens across large parts of northern and central Israel. In a subsequent statement, authorities said residents were permitted to leave protected shelters, indicating that the immediate threat had subsided.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage linked to the second barrage.The attacks follow a separate missile strike on Wednesday that injured 14 people, including a child, according to Israeli emergency services, as residents prepared for the Passover holiday.

The exchange underscores escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel, with both sides having previously accused each other of employing cluster munitions in the conflict.

The Israeli military said the incoming missiles activated warning systems across several regions, with interceptions heard over Tel Aviv. In northern Israel, residential buildings were damaged by debris from intercepted projectiles.

No fatalities were reported.The escalation came hours after Trump said he would delay, by five days, a planned strike on Iran’s power grid, citing what he described as “very good and productive” discussions aimed at resolving hostilities in the Middle East.

Iranian officials moved swiftly to counter Trump’s statement. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said no talks had taken place, calling the U.S. claims “fake news” intended to manipulate financial and oil markets and deflect from mounting geopolitical pressure.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Qalibaf had been identified as a key interlocutor in the purported exchanges. However, his public denial cast doubt on the existence of any backchannel diplomacy.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they were continuing operations, including attacks on U.S. targets, and described Trump’s remarks as “psychological operations” with no bearing on Tehran’s military posture.

Global markets reacted sharply to the shifting narrative. Trump’s announcement of a delay in military action had initially buoyed investor sentiment, pushing share prices higher and driving oil below the $100-per-barrel mark after earlier volatility tied to threats of escalation.

By Tuesday, those gains appeared at risk as renewed hostilities and Iran’s rejection of negotiations reintroduced uncertainty into energy markets and broader risk sentiment.

The diplomatic confusion follows Trump’s weekend ultimatum demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The strategic waterway carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, making it a critical chokepoint for global energy supply.

Iran has not indicated any shift in its stance on the strait, and the continued exchange of threats and military actions has heightened concerns over potential disruptions to energy flows and regional stability.

The warning, delivered by Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari and echoed by senior officials, marked a sharp escalation in rhetoric as the conflict entered its fourth week, raising concerns over potential disruption to critical infrastructure in Gulf countries heavily dependent on desalination for drinking water.

Trump’s ultimatum, issued late Saturday, set a deadline of approximately 7:45 p.m. EDT on Monday for Iran to reopen the strategic waterway, through which roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies typically pass. He said the United States would strike Iranian power plants if Tehran failed to comply.

Iranian officials said any attack on its energy facilities would trigger a broad response targeting U.S.-aligned assets across the region. Zolfaqari stated that energy infrastructure, information technology systems and desalination plants linked to the United States and its regional allies would be considered legitimate targets.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said such strikes could lead to “irreversible destruction” of critical infrastructure in the Middle East. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until damaged Iranian facilities were restored.

Electricity infrastructure is central to Gulf economies, where high per capita consumption supports urban cooling and desalination systems. Bahrain and Qatar rely entirely on desalinated water, while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia depend on it for the majority of their supply, making such facilities strategically sensitive.

Israeli forces said they began a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in Tehran early Monday. Iranian media reported casualties, including the death of a child in Khorramabad, and damage to residential areas in Urmia.

Air raid sirens sounded across northern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv and parts of the occupied West Bank, indicating incoming Iranian missile fire. Israeli medical authorities reported dozens injured in earlier strikes on southern towns near key military installations.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted one of two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh, with the second landing in an uninhabited area.The conflict has also extended to Lebanon, where Israel said it conducted raids on Hezbollah sites in the south.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on northern Israel, while Israeli authorities reported at least one fatality near the border.

The threat of attacks on infrastructure and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have unsettled global markets. Oil prices opened volatile in Asian trading, while European gas prices surged sharply in the past week.Iranian actions have effectively restricted passage through the strait, contributing to what analysts describe as the most severe oil supply disruption since the 1970s.

However, Tehran has said the waterway remains open to vessels not linked to its adversaries, with some ships reportedly negotiating passage under coordinated arrangements.Market analysts said the U.S. ultimatum has heightened uncertainty, with expectations of downward pressure on equities and continued volatility in energy markets.

The war, launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel, has killed more than 2,000 people and triggered broader regional instability. Israeli officials said they expect weeks more fighting against Iran and Hezbollah, indicating no immediate de-escalation.

U.S. military deployments, including Marines and amphibious assets, continue to move into the region, even as earlier signals suggested Washington might consider scaling down operations.

Iran has maintained its capacity to retaliate despite sustained bombardment, underscoring the risk of further escalation involving civilian infrastructure and critical global energy routes.

Trump issued the warning in a social media post on Saturday, saying Washington would “obliterate” Iranian power facilities if the strategic waterway remained closed. The strait, a critical conduit for global oil flows, has been effectively shut amid the ongoing hostilities.

Iran’s military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, said any attack on its fuel and energy infrastructure would trigger strikes on U.S. and Israeli assets, including critical civilian-linked systems.

The statement, carried by state media, underscored a widening scope of potential targets beyond conventional military sites.

Iranian officials also indicated that access through the Strait of Hormuz would be restricted, with passage permitted selectively, reflecting Tehran’s control over the route during the conflict.

The escalation coincided with renewed Iranian missile barrages on Israel, including strikes near the southern cities of Dimona and Arad, close to the Negev Desert nuclear research area.

Israeli authorities said dozens were injured and residential buildings sustained heavy damage.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the impact in Arad caused extensive destruction but no fatalities, while urging adherence to air raid warnings. Israel’s military acknowledged that some missiles were not intercepted, marking a breach in air defence coverage in the area.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strikes indicated a shift to a new operational phase in the conflict.

The conflict has extended beyond Iran and Israel, with Hezbollah claiming responsibility for a deadly strike in northern Israel, while Gulf states reported drone and missile activity targeting energy infrastructure.

Iran also targeted the joint UK-U.S. military facility at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, though officials said the strike was unsuccessful. Military assessments cited in reports suggested the possibility of longer-range capabilities or alternative launch methods, though no confirmation was provided by Tehran.

The disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has halted most tanker traffic, contributing to supply constraints and rising global energy prices. Countries including the United Arab Emirates, Britain, Germany, France and Japan have expressed readiness to support efforts to restore safe navigation through the waterway.

U.S. Central Command said earlier that strikes on Iranian coastal facilities had degraded Tehran’s ability to target vessels in the strait. Additional U.S. naval assets and personnel are being deployed to the region as part of ongoing operations.

Casualties have mounted across multiple theatres, with Iran reporting more than 1,500 deaths, while Israel, the United States and Gulf states have also recorded military and civilian losses.