Iran has threatened to target or control critical undersea internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz [1], [2].

This move targets a primary digital artery for the Gulf region. Because these cables facilitate a massive volume of international trade and communication, any disruption could trigger widespread internet outages and destabilize global markets.

Iranian authorities and media linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said they may demand licensing fees for the use of these cables [1], [2]. The warnings suggest that the Iranian government intends to weaponize digital infrastructure to exert leverage over international entities and regional neighbors [2].

The stakes involve significant economic risk. Approximately $10 trillion in daily global financial transactions pass through these undersea cables [1], [2]. By positioning itself as a gatekeeper to this data, Iran could potentially disrupt the flow of capital and trade across the region, a strategy that mirrors its historical tactics regarding oil shipments in the same strait.

Officials said that cable cuts are a possibility if their demands are not met [1]. Such an action would not only isolate Gulf nations from the global web but could also force a rerouting of data that would slow connection speeds and increase costs for providers worldwide [2].

The focus on the Strait of Hormuz highlights the vulnerability of physical internet infrastructure. While much of the digital world is viewed as cloud-based, the actual transmission of data relies on physical cables that are susceptible to kinetic interference [1], [2].

“Iran has threatened to target or control critical undersea internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz.”

The threat to undersea cables transforms a traditional maritime choke point into a digital one. By targeting the physical layer of the internet, Iran is expanding its strategic toolkit beyond oil and military deterrence to include the disruption of global financial liquidity and data sovereignty.