Iranian Officials Criticized for Smartwatch Use Amid Security Failures

• •Iranian officials criticized for using smartwatches amid security concerns.
• •Smartwatches can expose users to tracking and targeted attacks.
• •Calls for changes in security practices following intelligence failures.

Iranian officials, including Gholamreza Jalali and the late Ali Shamkhani, were photographed wearing smartwatches, raising concerns about security vulnerabilities. Jalali, head of the Passive Defense Organization, argued that the use of such devices poses significant risks, especially given Israel's history of exploiting electronic lapses to track Iranian personnel. The Iranian Cyber Security Command had previously banned the use of devices connected to public networks during the June 2025 war, but the ban was reportedly ineffective. Gholhaki, a conservative commentator, linked the smartwatch usage to intelligence failures that have led to targeted assassinations of Iranian leaders. The ongoing debate highlights the need for fundamental changes in security practices within Iran's military and political establishments.