The Iranian leadership has developed detailed plans to target submarine communication cables in the Persian Gulf in the event of renewed military operations by the United States and Israel. According to high-ranking Iranian security officials, Tehran intends to disregard any 'red lines' during a new escalation if diplomatic efforts collapse.
Threats Aimed at Critical Telecommunications Infrastructure
Two Iranian security officials told Reuters that plans for attacks on submarine infrastructure are fully prepared. One source directly warned Washington that in the event of an attack, not only military bases but also strategic communication cables would be targeted. The official urged the American side to halt escalation, emphasizing that Tehran possesses the technical capability to disable these lines.
On Wednesday, Yadollah Giovanni, Deputy Head of Political Affairs for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), confirmed this stance. He specified that seven key internet cables running directly beneath the waters of the Strait of Hormuz are within the potential target zone. The Iranian side also intends to obstruct any attempts to repair damaged networks to sustain communications outages.
Global Significance of Submarine Highways and Potential Risks
Submarine fiber-optic lines serve as the fundamental backbone of global digital infrastructure. According to official data from the UN International Telecommunication Union, approximately 99% of all global internet traffic passes through such conduits. However, expert assessments regarding the scale of future disruptions vary depending on specific routes and data volumes.
Alan Mauldin, Research Director at telecommunication company TeleGeography, noted that less than 1% of international internet bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, the actual consequences of a potential sabotage would depend on the number of disabled lines, the speed of traffic rerouting, and the availability of alternative data transmission paths for operators.
Economic Consequences and Geopolitical Context
A successful attack on submarine communications could severely impact key sectors of the global economy. In the event of large-scale damage, international financial transactions, e-commerce, and the stability of cloud services would be compromised. Meanwhile, conducting repair work in an active military conflict zone would be extremely difficult due to soaring insurance rates and challenges in obtaining permits.
Tensions in the region are rising amid reports that the leadership of the US and Israel is discussing new military scenarios. According to NBC News, the US military has already prepared potential strike options for President Donald Trump, which could coincide with the November midterm elections. Concurrently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is demanding a forceful response to Iran's nuclear and military program.
