Iran’s Plan to Abandon GPS Reflects a Broader Technological and Geopolitical Shift
July 27, 2025—Al Jazeera
In the wake of recent conflicts and mounting geopolitical tensions, Iran’s announcement to discontinue reliance on the U.S.-controlled Global Positioning System (GPS) marks a significant development extending far beyond mere technology. This move illustrates a growing global realignment in digital infrastructure and strategic autonomy, underscoring a nascent “tech cold war” reshaping international relations.
Disruptions Spark a Search for Alternatives
During the 12-day conflict involving U.S. and Israeli operations targeting Iran in mid-2025, Iranian military and civilian systems increasingly suffered from GPS signal disruptions in the strategically vital Gulf region. These disruptions raised alarm within Iranian authorities, prompting a re-evaluation of the country’s dependence on foreign satellite navigation services susceptible to external interference.
Ehsan Chitsaz, Iran’s Deputy Communications Minister, revealed in July that the country is actively developing plans to transition critical sectors— including transportation, agriculture, and internet infrastructure—away from GPS and toward China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system. He acknowledged “internal systems” were sometimes responsible for GPS interference, yet these vulnerabilities have collectively motivated Tehran to pursue alternatives.
A Symbol of Shifting Global Power
Though initially appearing as a tactical response to military vulnerabilities, Iran’s pivot away from GPS highlights a broader challenge to longstanding Western dominance over global technological infrastructure. For decades, the United States has maintained a near-monopoly on systems ranging from computer operating platforms and satellite networks to telecommunications frameworks. This hegemony has left many countries dependent on U.S.-controlled technologies for vital civilian and military functions.
However, revelations from whistleblowers and investigative media reports since 2013 exposed extensive Western surveillance capabilities embedded in these systems, fueling distrust. As a result, countries are increasingly viewing reliance on Western technology as a strategic liability.
In this context, Iran’s shift to BeiDou is a clear message to nations worldwide: blind dependence on U.S.-controlled digital infrastructure is untenable. The trend toward alternative navigation systems—such as Europe’s Galileo and Russia’s GLONASS—reflects a desire for sovereign control over essential technologies.
Beyond GPS: Digital Security and Sovereignty
Iran’s concerns extend beyond satellite navigation. The recent conflict saw high-profile assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists and military leaders, raising fears that Israeli operatives may have exploited telecommunications networks to identify precise locations. In response, Iranian authorities instructed citizens to cease using WhatsApp, a messaging app owned by the U.S.-based Meta corporation, citing fears of data leakage to Israel amid the ongoing hostilities.
Cybersecurity experts have long questioned WhatsApp’s security. Media reports have linked Israeli artificial intelligence targeting mechanisms used in Gaza to data harvested from social media platforms, further intensifying concerns. Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives moved to ban WhatsApp from government devices shortly after the conflict, underscoring distrust of the app at official levels.
Iran already operates its own intranet system—the National Information Network—which grants state authorities greater control over internet usage. Observers anticipate Iran will continue expanding digital sovereignty efforts, potentially developing restrictions akin to China’s Great Firewall.
Aligning with China and the Belt and Road Vision
Tehran’s technological realignment corresponds with its deepening partnership with Beijing. China’s expansive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), often portrayed as an infrastructure and trade strategy, embodies ambitions far beyond physical projects. It seeks to construct an alternative global order based on interconnected digital, economic, and strategic networks.
Iran occupies a pivotal role within the BRI framework due to its geographic location and energy resources. The adoption of China’s BeiDou system not only serves immediate technical needs but also signals Iran’s integration into a growing technology bloc united by shared political defiance of Western dominance.
The Dawn of a New “Tech Cold War”
The convergence of technological independence and geopolitical allegiance marks the emergence of a new era of confrontation. Rather than open military conflict, this “tech cold war” involves nations making strategic decisions on critical infrastructure—navigation systems, communications platforms, data governance, and financial networks—largely based on political alignment and trust rather than purely on technical merits.
As countries like Iran join alternative tech spheres led by China and Russia, the West’s historical technological advantage faces unprecedented challenges. This shifting landscape will reshape international power relations, influencing everything from military capabilities to digital sovereignty and economic influence.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Al Jazeera.
Image caption: Iranian military exercises involving China and Russia in the Gulf of Oman, March 2025 [Handout/Iranian Army via Reuters]
