Widespread GPS Disruption and Location Issues in Several Cities in Iran

Reports from media and social media users indicate a widespread and several-hour-long GPS disruption in cities across Iran, affecting navigation apps and ride-hailing services. The public relations department of the Iranian navigation app 'Neshan' announced on Sunday, June 3, that this issue represents the 'most extensive GPS disruption' to date, causing the locations of some users in Tehran to shift to fake locations at Mehrabad Airport, Azadi Square, and points in the cities of Qom and Isfahan. According to Behzad Kazemi, a senior engineer on the 'Neshan' navigation team, the technical team of the company discovered the GPS disruption in various regions of Iran, particularly in 'several metropolitan areas,' by examining a module developed for detecting and reporting GPS spoofing. Based on the announcement from 'Neshan's' public relations, a large number of users contacted the map and navigation support on Sunday, complaining about the GPS disruption and stating that while their location was in Tehran, the map showed them in another city. Several users on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) wrote that although they are currently based in Tehran, 'Neshan' and other navigation apps show them at a similar address in Isfahan. Another user with a similar issue emphasized that this disruption caused the navigation app to indicate an eight-hour distance to their destination despite being only five minutes away. The public relations department of 'Neshan' confirmed this issue and noted that, as in the past, the cause of this disruption remains unclear, stating that the recent disruption has caused many users, especially ride-hailing drivers, to face serious navigation problems. Since the banning of the navigation app 'Waze' and the law prohibiting its use in Iran, some drivers and citizens have turned to domestic navigation apps 'Neshan' and 'Bald.' However, complex and widespread internet disruptions within Iran have led media outlets, including Donya-e-Eqtesad, to report that this issue has also affected domestic platforms, rendering internal map and navigation services practically 'useless.' On the other hand, the disruption in location detection caused by the GPS interference has strengthened speculations about the involvement of governmental entities, but no clear response has been provided on this matter.