Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly acquired military satellite technology from China via a United Arab Emirates-based company, Telesun. The Financial Times revealed that the IRGC's Aerospace Force purchased a 4.5-meter motorized satellite antenna from Chinese manufacturer StarWin, with the shipment occurring in late 2025. The equipment was transported from Shanghai to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas aboard the Chinese container ship Zhong Gu Yin Chuan. After arriving in Dubai on August 28, 2025, the cargo was transferred to the Iranian vessel Rama III. This shipment, described in customs documents as “antenna and accessories,” weighed nearly 1.8 tonnes and was split across six cases.

The report also highlights ongoing concerns regarding clandestine arms sales from China to Iran, with U.S. intelligence indicating that Chinese companies are exploring ways to supply weapons while obscuring their origins. Although U.S. officials have not confirmed any formal arms shipments, they noted that communications between Chinese firms and Iranian officials are taking place, raising alarms over potential military collaborations.