Following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and subsequent retaliatory actions by Tehran, access to high-resolution satellite imagery has become increasingly restricted. Planet Labs, a primary provider of satellite data, initially announced a four-day delay for the release of imagery covering the Gulf region. Within days, the company extended this restriction to a 14-day delay and expanded the geographic scope of the policy to include additional areas of conflict, including Gaza.

This move has created a significant hurdle for investigative journalists and independent observers who rely on satellite data to verify military movements, damage assessments, and humanitarian conditions on the ground. By withholding current imagery, the provider effectively creates a 'blackout' period that prevents the public from viewing the immediate aftermath of military engagements. While the company has not publicly detailed the specific pressures leading to these policy changes, the timing coincides with heightened military tensions between regional powers and their allies. The restriction forces news organizations to rely on official government statements or delayed visual evidence, limiting their ability to provide independent verification of events as they unfold.