Iran’s Plan to Abandon GPS Signals a Broader Geopolitical Shift Beyond Technology
By Jasim Al-Azzawi — Published on 27 July 2025
In the wake of increasing regional tensions and recent military confrontations, Iran has announced plans to discontinue reliance on the United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS), opting instead to adopt alternative navigation technologies such as China’s BeiDou satellite system. Though at first glance this appears to be a mere technological change, analysts suggest it represents a deeper, strategic realignment in global power structures and digital sovereignty.
Disruptions During the Israel-Iran Conflict Highlight Vulnerabilities
During a recent 12-day conflict involving US-Israeli operations against Iran, Iranian authorities reported repeated disruptions to GPS signals affecting military maneuvers and vessel navigation in the Gulf of Oman. These disruptions underscored the vulnerability Iran and others face by depending on GPS — a system controlled by a foreign superpower and susceptible to interference during conflict.
Iran’s Deputy Communications Minister Ehsan Chitsaz confirmed to Iranian media in mid-July that the government is developing plans to switch key sectors including transportation, agriculture, and internet infrastructure away from GPS, shifting instead to BeiDou. This move is also driven by concerns that “disruptions are created on this [GPS] system by internal systems,” hinting at worries about deliberate jamming or cyber interference.
A Broader Trend Towards Digital Sovereignty
Iran’s pivot towards BeiDou is part of a growing global trend where nations strive to reduce dependence on Western-led technology systems. For decades, the United States and its allies have dominated critical technology infrastructures — from operating systems and internet protocols to telecommunications and satellite navigation networks. This global dependency creates vulnerabilities for countries like Iran, which face geopolitical tensions with the West.
Whistleblower revelations and investigative reports since 2013 have exposed how Western technologies often enable mass surveillance and data collection on a global scale. Such concerns have prompted nations to pursue alternatives promising greater control and security. Europe has developed its Galileo system, Russia operates GLONASS, and now China’s BeiDou is emerging as a viable non-Western option.
The Intersection of Technology and Geo-Politics
Iran’s decision is not isolated. It reflects an escalating "tech cold war" where technological infrastructure choice is increasingly dictated by political alignment and strategic security considerations rather than purely by performance or coverage.
The recent conflict also saw targeted assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders by Israeli forces, raising alarms over potential telecommunication interceptions. Iranian authorities even urged citizens to delete WhatsApp, a US-based messaging app allegedly used for intelligence gathering by Israel. Cybersecurity experts have long warned over privacy weaknesses in such Western platforms, which have now come under scrutiny as tools in broader intelligence conflicts.
To counter these threats, Iran has been building its own National Information Network — effectively a national intranet under closer government control — and is likely to expand this approach in future, akin to China’s strict online censorship model.
Linking Regional Dynamics to China’s Global Ambitions
Iran’s technological shift aligns with its growing partnership with China, especially within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Though often described as an infrastructure and trade project, the BRI also constitutes a strategic effort by Beijing to challenge Western dominance by creating parallel systems for technology, finance, and communication.
Iran, strategically located and a vital energy partner, plays a key role within this emerging alternate global order. Through cooperation with China, Tehran gains access to technological tools and infrastructure crucial for asserting digital and strategic independence.
The Dawn of a New Tech Cold War
The unfolding scenario highlights the beginning of a new form of geopolitical rivalry centered around digital infrastructure and technology ecosystems. Nations wary of dependence on Western systems are increasingly seeking alliances that offer technological self-sufficiency, security, and political solidarity.
As more countries follow Iran’s example and diversify away from US-led systems, the technological advantage long held by the West may diminish. This could lead to profound shifts in international power balances and redefine how global conflicts are fought in the digital age.
This article reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of Al Jazeera.
