Iran Threatens the Hormuz Internet Cables: Four Gulf States Have No Subsea Route That Avoids the Strait
Iran Named the Cables Before Naming the Targets On October 19, IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi told a ceremony in Tehran that seven major internet cables run beneath the Strait of Hormuz, and that new targets and new weapons would be unveiled. He added that this time the response would be much harsher. The statement did ...
On October 19, Iran's IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi revealed that seven major internet cables run beneath the Strait of Hormuz. He further stated that new targets and weapons would be unveiled during a future confrontation. Earlier in October, Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei had suggested that Iran could target U.S.-linked cables, data centers, and AI facilities. In May, Iran had claimed that every cable crossing the strait could be placed under Iranian permits.
Six live cables cross the Strait of Hormuz today: 2Africa, AAE-1, FALCON, GBI, Tata TGN-Gulf, and OMRAN/EPEG. Two more cables, FIG and SEA-ME-WE 6, are under construction and are set to be operational in 2027, raising the total to eight. Iran's figure of seven cables lies between the current count and the upcoming eight, according to TeleGeography data.
2Africa connects the Gulf to Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman, while AAE-1 serves Qatar, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. FALCON links Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Iran. The Gulf Bridge International (GBI) connects Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Iran.
Tata TGN-Gulf connects Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman. OMRAN/EPEG connects Oman to Khasab, Diba, and Barka in Iran. FIG is under construction and is expected to be operational in 2027, linking Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman. SEA-ME-WE 6, also under construction for 2027, will connect Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
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