IRGC‑linked Tasnim warns of risks to undersea cables below Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News Agency has issued a stark warning regarding the critical undersea internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This report, while not an official government statement, serves as a thinly veiled threat, highlighting the vulnerability of a vital, yet often overlooked, component of global infrastructure. The concentration of numerous fiber-optic lines in this narrow passage makes the Strait of Hormuz a precarious point for the region's digital economy.

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The concentration of many internet cables in a single narrow passage has made the Strait of Hormuz a vulnerable point for the region’s digital economy – a place where cables, after passing through the Strait, connect to coastal landing stations and major regional data centers.

Tasnim's report meticulously details how simultaneous damage to several major cables could trigger severe outages across the Persian Gulf, impacting not only regional data centers but also global connectivity. The accompanying graphic, illustrating the intricate network of cables including Falcon, AAE-1, TGN-Gulf, and SEA-ME-WE, underscores the potential for widespread disruption. This warning is particularly significant given the soaring tensions in the Strait, a crucial oil transit route, suggesting that digital infrastructure may become a new battleground.

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simultaneous damage to several major cables – whether through accidents or deliberate action – could trigger severe outages across the Persian Gulf.

This development is especially concerning for Gulf states like the UAE and Bahrain, which are heavily investing in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data centers. These nations rely on the undersea cables to connect to global networks, and disruptions could cripple their financial systems and burgeoning tech sectors. The report by Iran International rightly points out that this warning signifies a widening map of pressure points in the simmering conflict, with undersea cables now joining ports, shipping lanes, and energy facilities as potential targets. For Iran, this represents a potent asymmetric threat, capable of inflicting significant economic damage on adversaries and their allies without direct military confrontation.

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undersea cables and regional data hubs now sit alongside ports, shipping lanes, and energy facilities in the conflict’s widening map of pressure points.