Iran Warns It Could Target Gulf Internet Cables if US-Israel War Resumes

Iran has reportedly drawn up detailed plans to attack undersea communications cables across the Gulf if the United States and Israel launch fresh military strikes against the country. The warning raises concerns about potential disruptions to internet connectivity, financial transactions and cloud-based services across the Middle East if the conflict escalates again.

According to a Reuters report citing two senior Iranian security officials, Tehran is considering targeting critical undersea cable infrastructure as part of a broader response to any renewed military campaign. One official said Iran could also attempt to prevent repair crews from restoring damaged cables, potentially prolonging disruptions to communications networks.

The officials, who spoke anonymously, did not disclose the precise locations or operational details of the alleged plans. However, their statements followed public warnings from Iranian military and security figures that critical digital infrastructure could become a target if the United States and Israel attacked Iran again.

One Iranian official warned that a renewed conflict would remove previous limits on the country's response, extending potential targets beyond military installations to undersea communications cables and other strategic facilities.

The threats come amid uncertainty over diplomatic efforts to prevent another round of fighting. Iranian officials have warned that any fresh attack would prompt a broader response, while US and Israeli military activity has fuelled concerns about a possible escalation.

Strait of Hormuz Emerges as a Potential Target

Iranian Revolutionary Guards official Yadollah Javani said earlier that seven major internet cables passing beneath the Strait of Hormuz could be targeted if Iranian infrastructure came under attack.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is best known as a critical route for global energy shipments, but it also forms part of the region's digital communications infrastructure.

Undersea fibre-optic cables carry data between countries and continents, supporting internet services, international banking, online commerce, cloud computing and communications. Damage to these cables can force operators to redirect traffic through alternative routes, potentially slowing connections and increasing pressure on remaining network capacity.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, undersea cables carry approximately 99 per cent of global international data traffic. However, telecommunications research firm TeleGeography estimates that less than one per cent of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

This means that attacks in the strait could have a more concentrated effect on Gulf countries than on global internet connectivity as a whole. The scale of any disruption would depend on how many cables were damaged, the availability of alternative routes and the capacity of other networks to handle redirected traffic.

Iran Threatens Wider Digital Infrastructure

The warnings about undersea cables form part of a broader set of threats by Iranian officials against infrastructure linked to the United States and its regional partners.

Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Iranian security official, previously warned that data centres, artificial intelligence facilities and other digital infrastructure across the Gulf could be targeted if fighting resumed. Iranian officials have argued that countries hosting facilities supporting US interests could face consequences in a renewed conflict.

The threats are significant because Gulf states have invested heavily in data centres, cloud computing and artificial intelligence as part of efforts to diversify their economies beyond oil. Major American technology companies have expanded their presence in the region, making digital infrastructure increasingly important to both local development and international business.

Earlier in 2026, Iranian strikes hit two Amazon Web Services facilities in the United Arab Emirates and damaged infrastructure near another facility in Bahrain, according to Reuters reporting. The incidents demonstrated that digital infrastructure could be exposed to the wider military confrontation.

Targeting undersea cables would present a different challenge from striking a data centre. Cables form part of a distributed international network, and damage can affect communications across multiple countries. Repairing them requires specialised vessels, equipment and access to the affected waters.

Repairing Damaged Cables Could Prove Difficult

Even if only a limited number of cables were damaged, restoring service could be complicated if hostilities continued. Repair vessels may face security risks, while higher insurance premiums and restrictions on entering territorial waters could delay repair work.

Iranian officials reportedly indicated that Tehran could seek to prolong disruptions by preventing repairs following any attacks. Such a strategy could make the consequences of cable damage more serious, particularly for countries with limited alternative connectivity.

Telecommunications operators generally design networks with backup routes to reduce the impact of individual cable failures. However, simultaneous damage to several connections could place additional pressure on available capacity and make it harder to maintain normal service levels.

Potential effects could include slower internet access, disruptions to financial transactions, delays in cloud-based business operations and difficulties for companies that depend on reliable international data connections.

The consequences would vary by country and service provider. Some traffic could be redirected through land-based networks or other submarine cables, but the effectiveness of these alternatives would depend on their capacity and the location of the damage.

Red Sea Routes Could Have Broader Consequences

Telecommunications experts have also pointed to the Red Sea as a potentially more consequential location for global data connectivity. The waterway carries important communications links between Europe, East Africa and Asia.

According to figures cited by TeleGeography, routes through the Red Sea account for around three per cent of global international bandwidth demand and approximately 10 per cent of traffic travelling between regions.

Any significant disruption to these routes could therefore affect a wider range of international connections. The threat is particularly relevant given the activities of Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen, although Tehran has not publicly stated that it plans to target undersea cables in the Red Sea.

The region has already experienced security threats to commercial shipping and other infrastructure during the broader conflict. Further attacks on digital networks could add another layer of risk for businesses and governments dependent on international communications.

Threats Intended to Deter Renewed Military Action

Analysts cited by Reuters said Iran's warnings could be intended to discourage Washington from launching further attacks by highlighting the potential economic consequences for Gulf countries and American technology companies.

Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran programme at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said the threats could put pressure on regional governments and corporate executives to raise concerns with the US administration about the risks to their investments.

Gulf countries have committed substantial resources to developing technology hubs and attracting international investment. Damage to communications infrastructure could undermine those ambitions by increasing operating costs and creating uncertainty for businesses.

The Iranian officials also argued that Gulf states should hold Washington responsible for any damage resulting from a renewed conflict. These statements reflect Tehran's position, rather than an independently established assessment of responsibility for any future attack.

The US State Department and Iran's Foreign Ministry did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment on the officials' statements, and Gulf governments had not immediately commented on the reported plans.

Gulf States and Technology Companies Seek Alternatives

Governments and technology companies have been investing in additional infrastructure to improve the resilience of regional communications networks. Land-based fibre connections can provide alternative routes for data when submarine cables are damaged or unavailable.

Microsoft has announced plans to invest more than $400 million in subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030. Such investments are intended to strengthen regional networks and provide additional capacity as demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services grows.

Nevertheless, alternative routes cannot necessarily replace every damaged connection immediately. The impact of multiple cable failures would depend on the location of the affected infrastructure, available backup capacity and how quickly repairs could be carried out.

Iran's reported plans remain conditional on a possible resumption of hostilities, and the officials did not provide details that would independently establish how or when such attacks might be conducted. The threats nonetheless highlight the vulnerability of critical digital infrastructure during geopolitical conflicts.

With diplomacy between Washington and Tehran still uncertain, the possibility of attacks on undersea cables adds a further concern to an already tense regional situation. Any disruption could extend beyond military operations, affecting internet users, businesses, financial institutions and technology services throughout the Gulf.