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

Iran has reportedly prepared comprehensive strategies to disrupt critical undersea communication cables in the Gulf should the United States and Israel launch fresh military strikes against the country, according to two senior Iranian security officials. These officials, speaking anonymously, did not offer specifics on the methods or locations of such attacks, but indicated that Iran would aim to hinder repair efforts to extend periods of disruption to communications, including internet services.

One official explicitly stated that Iran would target not only undersea cables but also military bases, including covert ones, warning Washington against provoking a conflict with no limits. Deputy head of political affairs for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Yadollah Javani, confirmed Iran's capability to target seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz if under attack.

While undersea cables transmit around 99% of global internet traffic, the impact of Iran's potential attacks could be limited, as less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Alan Mauldin, research director at TeleGeography, noted that Iran's actions could still disrupt global networks, with cable cuts potentially slowing down internet services, impacting financial transactions, e-commerce, and cloud computing.

However, the Red Sea might offer a more significant target due to the presence of Houthi allies in Yemen, although Iran has not publicly announced any intentions to target cables in that region.