Iran threatens to sever Gulf internet cables in retaliation for renewed US, Israeli attacks

Iran has drawn up plans to target undersea communications cables if the United States and Israel launch another attack on Iran. The threat applies if diplomacy with Washington collapses and conflict resumes. Iranian officials presented it as a warning that no infrastructure would remain protected.

The threatened targets include cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz. Yadollah Javani, a senior Revolutionary Guards official, said Iran could target seven major internet cables if Iranian infrastructure came under attack. One security official said Iran would try to prevent repairs, extending interruptions to internet connections and other communications.

The officials did not explain exactly how or where attacks would occur. They said Iran has access to the cables and could destroy them. The threat is also meant to deter renewed conflict by raising risks for Gulf governments, American companies, and their regional technology investments.

Undersea communications cables are physical connections laid beneath seas and oceans. They carry digital data between countries and regions, linking internet networks across borders. Although people often describe online services as being “in the cloud,” those services still depend on physical connections.

Their importance is enormous: the International Telecommunication Union says undersea cables carry around 99% of global internet traffic. That traffic supports ordinary internet access as well as financial transactions, e-commerce, and cloud computing. A cable cut does not necessarily disconnect everyone, but it removes capacity from the network.

The effects depend on how much traffic operators can move onto other connections. Land-based routes and additional infrastructure can provide alternatives. Still, several cuts could slow services and disrupt networks, especially when wartime conditions make repairs slower, more expensive, and harder to organize.

The Strait of Hormuz is strategically important, but it carries a relatively small share of the world’s international internet capacity. Alan Mauldin of TeleGeography said less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the strait. That limits the likely global effect of attacks focused there.

Iranian Revolutionary Guards official Yadollah Javani said Iran could target seven major internet cables beneath the strait. If several were cut, operators would need to shift traffic onto other available connections. The result would depend on the capacity and configuration of those alternative routes.

A limited global share does not mean no consequences. Cable cuts could slow internet access and disrupt financial transactions, e-commerce, and cloud computing in affected areas. Repairs could also be delayed during war, extending regional problems even if other global routes continue operating.

Cutting several cables would remove important pathways for digital traffic. Internet operators would have to move data onto remaining connections, potentially creating slower services or congestion. The disruption could extend beyond browsing because many economic activities rely on stable network links.

Analysts said multiple cuts could affect financial transactions, e-commerce, and cloud computing. Cloud services still depend on networks connecting users, data centers, and other systems. If routes are damaged, companies may face slower access or interrupted connections, depending on how successfully operators reroute traffic.

The damage would not automatically affect the entire world equally. Alan Mauldin said the outcome would depend on alternative connections and their available capacity. Wartime repairs could take longer, allowing disruptions to persist. Higher insurance costs and delayed permits for entering territorial waters could make restoration even harder.

Internet operators can respond to damaged Gulf cables by shifting traffic onto alternative connections. Land-based networks offer one possible route, while other subsea links may carry additional traffic if they have enough capacity. Gulf states and technology companies are investing in infrastructure designed to improve this resilience.

The key mechanism is rerouting. Operators direct data around the damaged section, but the substitute paths may not handle everything. Alan Mauldin said the impact depends on the capacity available on alternative connections. If several cables are cut, remaining routes could become congested, slowing services and disrupting digital activity.

War could also delay physical repairs. Experts cited higher insurance costs and delays in getting permission to enter territorial waters. Restoring connections may therefore take longer than usual. Microsoft plans to invest more than $400 million in subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030.

Iran would target communications infrastructure to raise the costs of a renewed conflict. The threatened cables support Gulf governments, American companies, and major technology investments in the region. By warning that those systems could be damaged, Tehran is trying to influence decisions before fighting begins.

One Iranian security official said Gulf states should hold Washington, not Tehran, responsible for any cable damage. Alex Vatanka said the threats were designed to make Gulf governments and corporate executives pressure Donald Trump over the risks to their investments. The strategy is therefore both military and political.

The wider concern includes data centers, artificial-intelligence facilities, and internet links. Iran previously struck two Amazon Web Services facilities in the UAE and damaged infrastructure near one in Bahrain, according to the article. Gulf states and US technology companies are now investing in additional routes and infrastructure to improve resilience.

The article shows that the internet is a physical system. Undersea cables carry around 99% of global internet traffic, while data centers and land-based links help move and process digital information. “The cloud” depends on these real facilities and connections to deliver services.

For example, Gulf cables connect regional networks with wider international systems. If cables are cut, operators can reroute traffic through land-based connections or other subsea routes. That response works only when alternative paths have enough capacity. Multiple cuts can therefore slow internet access and disrupt financial transactions, e-commerce, and cloud computing.

Resilience depends on building more routes and facilities. Gulf states and US technology companies are investing in additional infrastructure, while Microsoft plans more than $400 million in Middle Eastern subsea and terrestrial connectivity by 2030. Wartime repairs remain difficult because permits, insurance, and access can be delayed.