Iran Warns US-Israel Attack Could Put Gulf Undersea Internet Cables at Risk

Two Iranian officials warned that undersea communication cables could be targeted if diplomacy fails and new hostilities erupt in the region.

One official said Iran would not allow the cables to be repaired, potentially keeping internet services disrupted for an extended period. The source added that if Iran came under attack, there would be no remaining red lines.

In retaliation, Iran could target everything from undersea communication cables to US-linked military installations located across the Gulf. The officials also warned that covert operations could be carried out. They cautioned the United States against playing with fire, stating that Iran had access to undersea communication cables.

According to the United Nations agency, the International Telecommunication Union, 99 per cent of global internet traffic travels through these cables, making them a critical component of international communications infrastructure.

However, Alan Mauldin, research director at telecommunications research firm TeleGeography, said that only one per cent of Iran's international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Iranian security official, said that in response to any new attack on Iran, US-linked digital infrastructure in Gulf countries would be targeted. This would include data centres and AI facilities. American companies have invested heavily in these countries, making their digital infrastructure a potential focus of Iran's threatened retaliation.

Meanwhile, Turkey has expressed concern over the possibility of fresh attacks on Iran. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that further strikes could escalate tensions across the region and expand the scope of the conflict.

Fidan called for a diplomatic solution through negotiations to bring the war to an end. He conveyed these concerns during a meeting in Istanbul with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy.

Iran's warning over undersea communication cables adds another dimension to the escalating tensions in West Asia, with the possibility of damage to critical internet infrastructure raising concerns about prolonged disruptions to global connectivity if the confrontation develops into a wider conflict.