A leading satellite imagery provider has tightened restrictions on coverage of the war in Iran, delaying public access to images from the conflict zone and raising fresh questions about transparency.

Planet Labs said on Monday that new images of Iran and nearby countries, including Gulf states such as the UAE, will now only be released to subscribers 14 days after they are taken.

The company had already imposed a shorter delay on imagery from neighbouring states, but the latest move significantly extends the wait for access to pictures from one of the world’s most closely watched conflicts.

Planet said the restrictions were designed to stop hostile actors from using recent imagery to assess battlefield damage in real time, saying the measure was intended to protect allied and partner forces as well as civilians on the ground.

Satellite images have become an essential reporting tool during the war, helping journalists and analysts examine the aftermath of strikes and verify damage at sites that remain difficult to access.

Last week, media outlets used Planet Labs imagery to assess a deadly strike on an elementary school in southern Iran, with weapons experts saying the images suggested the attack happened almost simultaneously with strikes on a nearby Revolutionary Guards base.

The company has major contracts with the US Department of Defense and other Western allies, underlining its growing role at the intersection of military intelligence, commercial technology and war reporting.