Iran threatens to target subsea cables in Persian Gulf

Iran Strait of Hormuz subsea cables telecommunications infrastructure Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Iranian security officials have developed detailed plans to target undersea telecommunications cables in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in response to potential military strikes by the United States and Israel. According to reports citing high-ranking officials, Tehran aims not only to damage these cables but also to obstruct subsequent repair efforts to prolong communication disruptions.

Yadollah Javani, a deputy head of political affairs for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), specifically identified seven major internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz as potential targets. Beyond telecommunications, officials suggested that Iran could target data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and energy or military installations if attacked.

While undersea cables carry approximately 99% of global internet traffic, experts from TeleGeography note that the impact of an attack in the Strait of Hormuz might be primarily regional. They estimate that less than 1% of global international bandwidth passes through this specific strait, meaning modern network redundancy could reroute much of the global traffic, though regional services, financial transactions, and cloud computing could face significant disruptions.

Entities

Hossein Mohebi · Iran · Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps · Israel · Israel · Strait of Hormuz · TeleGeography · United States · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] Potential targets include airports, pipelines, and energy and communication infrastructure. gilkhabar.ir · valor.globo.com · www.khabarfoori.com · www.naftemporiki.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] Iran has resumed limited ballistic missile production in underground facilities using stockpiled parts. gilkhabar.ir
[○ 1 SOURCE] The U.S. Air Force returned bombers from a base in the United Kingdom to the United States due to drone attack concerns.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Iran proposed a seven-day plan via Qatar to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore shipping security. hamdelidaily.ir
[○ 1 SOURCE] The U.S. has ordered non-essential employees and families to leave Saudi Arabia due to Houthi threats.
[● 10 SOURCES] Iran warned that its response to attacks would expand to economic and civilian infrastructure. gilkhabar.ir · www.khabarfoori.com · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.energymag.gr · gadgetnews.net · +4 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Bandwidth passing through the Strait of Hormuz represents less than 1% of global international bandwidth. notiziedi.it · www.dire.it · www.energymag.gr · gadgetnews.net · ordu.az · +1 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to cut subsea cables in the Strait of Hormuz. notiziedi.it · www.dire.it · www.energymag.gr · gadgetnews.net · www.ertnews.gr · +6 more
[● 9 SOURCES] Iran may target data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure. valor.globo.com · ordu.az · 24-ore.com · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.energymag.gr · +4 more
[● 10 SOURCES] The threat of cable damage is a response to potential military attacks by the US and Israel. www.energymag.gr · gadgetnews.net · notiziedi.it · www.dire.it · www.xataka.com.mx · +5 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Iran plans to prevent the repair of damaged cables to prolong communication disruptions. www.energymag.gr · gadgetnews.net · www.xataka.com.mx · ordu.az · 24-ore.com · +3 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Iran has developed strategies to target at least twenty subsea cables in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. www.xataka.com.mx