Iran has drawn up plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel attack again, two senior Iranian security officials said. They said Iran could also try to prevent repairs, while an analyst estimated less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Two senior Iranian security officials said Tehran had detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel attack Iran again. One official said Iran would try to prevent repairs after any attacks to prolong disruptions, and warned there would be no more “red lines.”
Iranian Revolutionary Guards deputy head Yadollah Javani said Iran could target seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz if Iranian infrastructure came under attack. Undersea cables carry around 99% of global internet traffic, but less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the strait, said Alan Mauldin of TeleGeography.
Multiple cable cuts could slow internet services and disrupt financial transactions, e-commerce and cloud computing. The impact would depend on traffic rerouting and alternative capacity; wartime repairs could also face difficulties, higher insurance costs and permit delays. Iran has made no public statement indicating plans to target cables in the Red Sea.
