Washington: The US government has requested a satellite imagery provider to withhold distribution of photos from the Iran conflict zone, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. Planet Labs confirmed it is implementing a managed access model for its satellite images of the region, sharing images only on a case-by-case basis for urgent, mission-critical requirements or in the public interest.

According to Anadolu Agency, a company spokesperson stated that the US government has asked satellite image providers to delay distributing images of the conflict zone indefinitely. Planet Labs' revised access policy will remain in effect until the war ends. The company had already slowed the sharing of imagery from the area, citing concerns that the data might be exploited by US adversaries.

Recently, companies have launched large numbers of imaging satellites, aiming to sell the collected data to clients such as farmers and insurance firms, as reported by the Journal. US national security agencies are reportedly among the biggest customers for this type of data, providing the government with considerable influence over how satellite companies operate.

Vantor, another satellite firm that collaborates with US national security agencies, has also introduced stricter controls on image access during conflicts, partly due to the high resolution of its satellite photos, according to a company spokesperson. This development comes as the US-Israeli war on Iran has entered its sixth week.