A Wake Up Call: Iran Leaving GPS for Chinese BeiDou After Israel's Electronic Warfare

The Iranian government has just made it official: they're gradually leaving America's GPS system in favor of China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System across key sectors like transportation, agriculture, and IoT. This isn't just some routine tech upgrade—it's a sign of major changes in technological influence in the Middle East.

The Iranian government recently officially announced its plan to gradually shift positioning services in key sectors such as transportation navigation, agricultural monitoring, and the Internet of Things from the U.S. GPS system to China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)

When GPS Goes Dark: Israel's Cyber Warfare Exposed Iran's Achilles Heel

Starting June 13, 2025 when Israel launched a brutal 12-day assault on Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets. During the period, GPS signals kept mysteriously vanishing across Iran and the Persian Gulf. Ships near Iranian ports started showing bizarre "circling" patterns on their tracking systems, while navigation apps in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem hilariously started telling users they were actually in Beirut or Cairo.

AP file photo

Iran admitted they were actively jamming GPS signals to counter drone and missile threats from Israel. But it backfired spectacularly, disrupting millions of internet users and thousands of businesses instead of actually protecting the country. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot while trying to dodge bullets.

Tehran's "Never Again" Moment: Why This Shift Matters

This pivot comes as Iran licks its wounds from getting hammered by Israeli strikes. Ali Akbar Dareini from Iran's Center of Strategic Studies put it bluntly—this decision stems from Iran's "painful experience" of relying on Western tech. The writing was on the wall during those 12 days in June when Iran discovered just how vulnerable they were to American-controlled infrastructure.

AP file photo

As Al Jazeera noted, "the era of blind reliance on American-controlled infrastructure is ending". Iran's basically telling the world they're done playing by Washington's rules and are ready to chart their own digital destiny.

Why BeiDou Actually Makes Sense (And It's Not Just Politics)

BeiDou isn't just some Chinese knockoff of GPS. It's actually superior in several key ways, especially in Asia. The system boasts 35 satellites providing global coverage, with civilian positioning accuracy of 1 meter in Asia compared to GPS's somewhat shabby 2-5 meters in the same region.

Iran sits right in BeiDou's sweet spot for coverage, meaning they'll get rock-solid signals from the Persian Gulf coast to their mountainous interior. Pakistan's already proven this works in practice—since signing their BeiDou deal with China in 2013, they've deployed ground stations in Karachi and Lahore that provide sub-meter accuracy for precision agriculture. We're talking about dramatically improved crop yields and water management—stuff that actually matters when you're trying to feed your population.

China's Space Silk Road Gains Another Major Player

The Iranian decision builds on years of cooperation between Tehran and Beijing in satellite navigation. The countries signed a memorandum of understanding in 2015 to establish BeiDou ground stations in Iran, addressing GPS coverage gaps. Their comprehensive 25-year cooperation agreement, signed in 2021, prominently features BeiDou applications as a key element of technological collaboration.

The BeiDou Navigation System, with its high-precision, strong coverage in Asia, and its autonomous control, has become Iran’s preferred choice.

BeiDou services and products now reach more than 140 countries and regions and have been incorporated into standards of 11 international organizations covering civil aviation and maritime operations. Countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are already cozying up to Chinese tech while maintaining their American security partnerships.

As Professor Enrico Fadella of University of Naples L'Orientale said, "The Middle East today seems to be emerging as a new technological battlefield — not through bases or bombs, but through satellites and networks."

China's Foreign Ministry has been pushing the line that "China's BeiDou is also the world's BeiDou," and Iran's full embrace of the system certainly strengthens Beijing's hand in the global navigation game. For countries looking to reduce their dependence on American technological infrastructure, Iran just provided a very public blueprint for how to make the switch.

The bottom is about much more than just satellite navigation. It's about technological sovereignty in an increasingly multipolar world, and Iran just became China's latest—and perhaps most significant—convert in the Middle East.

Mao Paishou

** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **

Forget what you thought you knew—global opinion is swinging fast. The Economist’s latest survey lands like a jolt across Western capitals, with its blunt verdict: China’s cultural clout, economic horsepower, and diplomatic finesse are soaring. The United States, meanwhile, finds itself tripping over Trump-era policy stumbles. Suddenly, the world stage isn’t a one-man show. China is catching up—fast.

The Economist calls the spike in support for China “startling”. Global Times isn’t buying it. For years, Western media stuck to the storyline—China’s rise must trigger anxiety. But people aren’t buying fear-mongering anymore. The data tells a different story. Pragmatism wins. China’s steady growth and consistent, peaceful diplomacy are finding friends everywhere. It’s not magic; it’s momentum. The more China delivers—on trade, stability, real benefits—the more the world leans in.

China’s support explodes in global poll, leaving the US playing catch-up.

Breadth, Depth, and Changing Minds

Follow the numbers. In a massive poll by the Economist and GlobeScan—32,000 voices, 32 countries, July to September 2025—China’s support rockets 11 points to 33%. The United States slumps to 46%, shy of a majority anywhere. Nearly 40% call China’s global footprint “positive”—a jump from Trump’s first term. Just ask the next generation.

Gen Z isn’t sitting on the fence—they’re almost split. 41% support the United States, 39% champion China. That’s neck and neck. Flip to the over-65 crowd and the gap yawns wide—America still gets the nod by thirty points. 

Look south—the warmth toward China spikes in developing nations. Young people everywhere are more open, more enthusiastic. Recent research covering 46 countries had sixty percent rating China “positive.” The global South and the global youth are jumping on the China train, and it’s not a coincidence—it’s payoff for years of tangible benefits.

Indonesia’s high-speed bullet—Jakarta–Bandung Rail powers new opportunities.

China Delivers Real Results

The startling swing may be “partly thanks to China’s Belt and Road Initiative”, which has, in the past 10 years, “seen tens of billions of dollars invested” in regions like Africa and the Middle East.

Infrastructure isn’t a talking point—it’s a revolution. Belt and Road, global initiatives, iconic mega-projects like the China-Laos Railway, Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail, Budapest–Belgrade Railway, and the Port of Piraeus don’t just flash headlines. They deliver: 420,000 new jobs, nearly 40 million people escaping poverty. China is laying track and lifting economies—and the world is noticing.

Labubu: China’s soft power icon storms abroad, collecting fans everywhere.

The Youth Go "Cool China"

Young people crave what’s fresh—and China’s got cool factor now. Innovation, culture, and brands like Labubu, TikTok, and Black Myth: Wukong are racking up fans overseas. Foreigners aren’t just watching—they’re coming, eager to engage. This vibrant, two-way flow builds new bridges, solidifying China's reputation as a destination, not just a headline.

TikTok: The youth can’t get enough, and China leads the digital dance.

China’s style of governance, with results for all to see, has smashed the old myth that “to modernize means to Westernize.” Countries are waking up—there’s more than one road to prosperity, and China’s path offers a real alternative for developing nations craving independence.

Global Times pulls no punches: “Unlike the rise of some major powers in history that came with war and expansion, China has always adhered to the principle of peaceful development.” In messy times, China’s steady hand—UN peacekeeping, hot-spot negotiations, and regional dialogue—makes it the stabilizing force the world is looking for.

China rejects hegemonic power tactics and calls for win–win deals with everyone. Rich nations get calls for mutual respect; developing countries get partnership with no strings attached. Dignity and trust aren’t just wordplays—they’re laid down as the new rules. As the Global Times concluded: “This approach has allowed more nations to feel respected and treated as equals, and many, especially those in the Global South, see China as a trustworthy partner”.