March 11, 2026

Could Iran be using China’s highly accurate BeiDou navigation system?

Nina Montagu-Smith

"If the reported effectiveness of BeiDou was to be confirmed, it could prompt Iran’s neighbouring states, including those currently being targeted by Iranian missiles, to reconsider their own reliance on GPS. Over time, this might lead to a transformation of the regional satellite navigation architecture towards a more diversified and less US-centric system.”

Théo Nencini, ChinaMed Research Fellow, was quoted by Nina Montagu-Smith in an Al Jazeera article discussing the possibility of Iran relying on China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, as well as the potential end of the monopoly of the Global Positioning System (GPS) among Gulf countries.

Read the full article here.

With the support of

This project is realized with the support of the Unit for Analysis, Policy Planning and Historical Documentation - Directorate General for Political Affairs and International Security of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in accordance with Article 23 ‒ bis of the Decree of the President of the Italian Republic 18/1967.
The views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views ofthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Published with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation pursuant to art. 23-bis of Presidential Decree 18/1967. The views expressed in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

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