Smartwatches Spark Security Fears in Iran, Recalling Israeli Exploitation of Tech Vulnerabilities

Images of Iranian security and military officials wearing smartwatches have ignited controversy and heightened concerns over data leaks and digital surveillance within Iran. The controversy, amplified by reports of past Israeli exploitation of connected devices to track senior figures and sensitive locations, has renewed criticism of the Islamic Republic's security protocols. Officials like Gholamreza Jalali, a senior officer in the Revolutionary Guards, have defended the use of such devices by drawing parallels to civilian smart TVs, but critics argue the security risks for high-ranking officials responsible for strategic infrastructure are significantly greater.

The primary concern centers on the tracking capabilities of smartwatches, which can transmit location and activity data via GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or connected phones, and may also include microphones and sensors. This echoes past incidents, such as the 2018 revelation where a public fitness app's data exposed the locations of U.S. military bases by mapping soldiers' running routes. The current smartwatch controversy brings Iran's intelligence and security failures into sharp focus, particularly following a June 2025 cyber command directive that banned public network-connected devices, including smartphones and smartwatches, for senior officials and their security teams, even when turned off.

This ban followed suspicions that such vulnerabilities had already been exploited. A previous New York Times report, citing Iranian and Israeli sources, suggested Israel had used compromised phones belonging to security guards and drivers during the 12-day war in June 2025 to locate and target senior Iranian officials and nuclear scientists. One notable incident involved locating a Supreme National Security Council meeting in a deep underground facility in western Tehran by tracking the phones of the guards who transported the officials, who themselves were not carrying mobile phones.

He has called for a fundamental overhaul of security procedures and a comprehensive investigation into how these breaches occurred and can be prevented.