“Strike Iran, Shut Down The Gulf!” Tehran’s Undersea Cable Threat Sends Warning To U.S. And Israel

What if Iran could disrupt the internet across the Gulf without launching a single missile at a city? Tehran is reportedly preparing plans to attack undersea internet cables if the United States or Israel strikes Iran again. According to a Reuters exclusive published on October 23rd, two senior Iranian security officials say Iran has drawn up detailed contingency plans to target undersea communications cables in the Persian Gulf if diplomacy with Washington collapses and fighting resumes. One Iranian official issued a stark warning, saying there would be no more red lines if Iran were attacked. The official specifically identified undersea cables and military bases, including covert facilities, as potential targets. But the threat does not stop at damaging the cables. One official reportedly said Iran would seek to prevent repairs, potentially extending disruptions to internet and communications services across the region. The Strait of Hormuz is best known as one of the world's most important oil-shipping choke points. But beneath its waters lie communications cables that help connect Gulf countries to the global internet. officials have previously warned that major cable systems beneath the Strait could become targets in a renewed conflict. Other warnings have also raised the possibility of attacks on U.S.-linked data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure across the Gulf. Any cable damage could disrupt internet access, banking, financial transactions, cloud computing, business operations across countries that rely on these connections. However, experts caution that the global impact may be limited. Although undersea cables carry roughly 99% of global internet traffic, less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The most severe consequences would likely be concentrated in the Gulf. The reported plans have not been independently verified, and no specific targets, attack methods or timelines have been publicly confirmed.