Satellite images of Iran and Middle East conflict zones restricted by US-based company

A major satellite imaging company has decided to stop sharing pictures of Iran and conflict zones in the Middle East indefinitely. Planet Labs, which operates dozens of Earth-observing satellites, made this move after being asked by the US government. This policy isn't new - they already delayed sharing these images for two weeks last month. The company says this is to prevent enemies from using the satellite data to plan attacks against American forces or their allies. They're holding back images dating back to early March, and only plan to share them again when the conflict ends. The war started after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February. Iran then responded by attacking Israel and US military bases in countries like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.Satellite images aren't just used for military purposes. They help journalists and researchers study hard-to-reach places. Some experts worry that Iran might get access to these commercial images from US adversaries. Planet Labs normally sells these images to governments, businesses and news organizations. Instead of completely stopping access, Planet Labs will now carefully control who sees the images. They'll only share them when absolutely necessary for safety or public interest. A different satellite company called Vantor already has its own system for controlling image access during conflicts. They say they weren't asked by the government, but have similar protections in place for active war zones. The Pentagon refused to comment on intelligence matters related to this decision. Planet Labs says they're trying to balance the needs of all their customers during these unusual times.