Iran Threatens Gulf Undersea Internet Cables if U.S.-Israeli Strikes Resume
By Sadaf Sundas Riaz — SCN NEWS
DUBAI — Iran has warned that undersea communications cables connecting Gulf countries to international internet networks could become targets if the United States and Israel launch renewed military attacks, extending Tehran's threats beyond energy facilities and military installations to infrastructure supporting banking, cloud computing and the region's rapidly expanding technology industry.
Two senior Iranian security officials have described preparations for possible strikes against submarine cables, including measures intended to prevent repairs and prolong communications disruptions. Their accounts, given anonymously to Reuters, did not identify specific attack locations or explain how the operations would be carried out. The existence and operational readiness of the reported plans have not been independently established.
The warnings follow increasingly direct statements from senior Iranian officials that the country's response to another major military campaign could extend to economic and technological assets across the Gulf. The statements have raised concerns among governments and companies investing billions of dollars in data centres, artificial intelligence facilities and digital communications networks.
Yadollah Javani, deputy head of political affairs for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said on Wednesday that seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz could be targeted if Iranian infrastructure came under attack. His warning was conditional and did not amount to an announcement that an operation had begun.
The Strait of Hormuz separates Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. It is among the world's most strategically important energy shipping routes, but it also carries communications infrastructure serving countries that have become increasingly dependent on international data connections.
A disruption to submarine cables could affect internet connectivity, electronic payments, commercial transactions and cloud-based services. The severity of any interruption would depend on which cables were damaged, how many routes remained available and whether network operators could redirect traffic through alternative systems.
The global consequences would not necessarily match the scale of the threat. Submarine cables carry approximately 99% of international internet traffic, according to the International Telecommunication Union, but telecommunications research firm TeleGeography estimates that less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
That distinction suggests damage in the strait could cause serious problems for particular Gulf networks without necessarily producing a worldwide internet outage. Modern telecommunications systems rely on multiple routes, and operators can often redirect traffic when individual connections fail, although alternative capacity may be insufficient during simultaneous disruptions.
Alan Mauldin, research director at TeleGeography, has identified rerouting capacity as a central factor in determining the impact of cable damage. Multiple cuts affecting different connections could produce greater congestion and longer service interruptions than the loss of a single route.
The prospect of delayed repairs adds another concern. Submarine cable restoration requires specialized vessels, equipment and permission to operate in affected waters. During an armed conflict, maritime security restrictions, insurance costs and difficulties obtaining access could prevent repair crews from reaching damaged infrastructure quickly.
Iranian officials have suggested that obstructing restoration work could form part of any future response. Such statements raise questions about the protection of civilian communications infrastructure during hostilities, although no confirmed attack on the threatened Gulf cable routes has been established in connection with the latest warnings.
The threats come as Gulf governments seek to strengthen their positions as regional technology and artificial intelligence centres. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries have been investing in digital infrastructure as part of efforts to diversify their economies beyond petroleum exports.
American technology companies are deeply involved in that expansion. Cloud computing providers, artificial intelligence developers and data-centre operators depend on reliable international connectivity to support services used by governments, financial institutions and private businesses.
Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei warned earlier this month that U.S.-linked digital infrastructure across the Gulf, including data centres and artificial intelligence facilities, could face attacks in another confrontation. The warning broadened the range of potential targets identified by Tehran beyond conventional military and energy assets.
The risks to technology infrastructure are not entirely theoretical. During the March conflict, Iranian strikes directly hit two Amazon Web Services facilities in the United Arab Emirates and damaged infrastructure near another facility in Bahrain. The incidents demonstrated that facilities supporting digital services can be exposed to physical attacks during regional hostilities.
The Revolutionary Guards also identified major American technology companies as potential targets during the earlier fighting. Such declarations have heightened concerns among businesses considering long-term investments in facilities that require stable electricity, secure premises and uninterrupted international communications.
The latest cable warnings may also serve a diplomatic purpose. Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, has assessed that Tehran is seeking to increase pressure on the United States by making Gulf governments and international companies more concerned about the potential economic consequences of renewed military action.
That approach would place countries hosting American commercial and military interests in a difficult position. Their governments have strong incentives to maintain security partnerships with Washington while protecting infrastructure investments and limiting the risk of disruption to domestic economies.
The United States and Iran have continued to exchange warnings as diplomatic efforts struggle to reduce tensions. President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that Washington could conduct another military operation against Iran, without announcing a specific decision or timetable.
The U.S. State Department and Iran's Foreign Ministry did not provide responses to requests for comment on the anonymous Iranian officials' claims in the original reporting. There was also no immediate public response from Gulf governments to those specific remarks.
The Red Sea represents another important part of the regional communications network. Cables running through that corridor connect Europe, East Africa and Asia, making the area significant for international data transmission as well as maritime trade.
TeleGeography estimates that Red Sea routes account for roughly 3% of global international bandwidth demand and approximately 10% of traffic moving between world regions. Disruptions there could therefore have different and potentially broader effects than damage confined to the Strait of Hormuz.
There is, however, no publicly established Iranian plan to attack Red Sea cables. Suggestions that the region could become vulnerable if Iran received assistance from its Houthi allies in Yemen remain assessments of possible risks rather than confirmed operational decisions.
Governments and telecommunications companies have been developing alternative connections to reduce dependence on individual maritime routes. Terrestrial fibre-optic networks, additional submarine systems and geographically diverse infrastructure can improve resilience, although building such redundancy requires substantial investment and time.
Microsoft has announced plans to invest more than $400 million in submarine and land-based connectivity across the Middle East by 2030. Such projects reflect the growing importance of reliable international data links to the region's economic development.
For Gulf governments, the latest warnings highlight the overlap between national security and digital infrastructure. Oil facilities and shipping routes have long been central to regional contingency planning, but financial networks, cloud platforms and communications cables are increasingly essential to the functioning of modern economies.
The immediate threat remains conditional. Iran has publicly warned of possible attacks if its infrastructure is struck again, while anonymous officials have described more extensive preparations without presenting evidence that can independently establish their readiness.
No new cable attack has been confirmed as part of the latest warning. Nevertheless, the statements have introduced another potential source of disruption into an already unstable regional security environment, where damage to civilian communications networks could carry economic consequences extending well beyond the battlefield.