{"text":[[{"start":9.85,"text":"The US has imposed sanctions on three Chinese commercial satellite companies for allegedly providing support to Iran, just days before President Donald Trump travels to Beijing for a summit with President Xi Jinping."}],[{"start":21.5,"text":"The US Department of State said it was targeting four entities, including three Chinese groups, for providing satellite imagery that enabled Iran to conduct military strikes against American forces in the Middle East."}],[{"start":33.85,"text":"The targets of the sanctions included The Earth Eye, a satellite earth station company that the US accused of providing satellite imagery to Tehran. "}],[{"start":43.5,"text":"The other Chinese targets were MizarVision, a geospatial intelligence firm, and Chang Guang Satellite Technology, a commercial satellite imagery group that helped Iran by supplying images of military facilities operated by the US and its allies in the Middle East during Operation Epic Fury."}],[{"start":61.75,"text":"The FT reported in April that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had acquired a Chinese satellite built and launched by The Earth Eye that helped Tehran target US military facilities during the conflict. "}],[{"start":74.35,"text":"Time-stamped co-ordinate lists, satellite imagery and orbital analysis showed that Iranian commanders had tasked the satellite with looking at critical US military sites, in some cases just days before they were struck."}],[{"start":87.44999999999999,"text":"Iranian military documents obtained by the FT showed that the IRGC had access to satellite control ground stations operated by Emposat, a Beijing-based provider of satellite control and data services with a global network."}],[{"start":102.54999999999998,"text":"The FT also reported last year that Chang Guang Satellite Technology, a group with ties to the Chinese military, had supplied Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen with imagery to target US warships in the Red Sea."}],[{"start":115.84999999999998,"text":"“Today’s action holds China-based entities accountable for their support to Iran,” US secretary of state Marco Rubio said in a statement, adding that Washington would “take all necessary action at its disposal to target third-country entities and individuals aiding Iran’s military and defence industrial base”."}],[{"start":134.84999999999997,"text":"The fourth target was Iran’s Ministry of Defence Export Center, the exporting arm of the country’s Ministry of Defence Logistics Export group, which has been previously put under sanctions by the US and UN Security Council."}],[{"start":148.54999999999995,"text":"The sanctions come ahead of Trump departing Washington on Tuesday for a state visit to China. The US president and his Chinese counterpart are expected to discuss the Iran conflict, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, when they hold what will be only their second meeting since Trump returned to the White House last year."}],[{"start":166.79999999999995,"text":"In recent weeks, US officials have urged China to do more to put pressure on Tehran to reach a deal that would cement the ceasefire that has largely been in place following five weeks of intense US strikes against Iran."}],[{"start":178.74999999999994,"text":"The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the sanctions."}],[{"start":191.24999999999994,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1778321759_9504.mp3"}