A senior Iranian hardliner has called on the country’s military and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to disrupt or cut international undersea internet cables running beneath the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns about the impact of the escalating conflict on the region’s digital infrastructure.
Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of Iran’s hardline Kayhan newspaper and a representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made the call in an editorial published Thursday.
Shariatmadari argued that Iran should consider the cables as another strategic pressure point in its confrontation with the United States and its allies. He urged the Iranian Army and IRGC to interfere with the cables’ operations or go as far as physically cutting them.
His comments represent a significant escalation in rhetoric surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, which has already become a major flashpoint in the conflict because of its importance to global oil and gas shipments.
However, the call is not an announced Iranian government policy or military order. There was no immediate indication that Iranian forces had begun cutting the cables or that Tehran had formally approved such an operation. Analysts tracking Iranian media described the editorial as advocacy from the hardline camp rather than evidence of an operational decision.
The concern is nevertheless serious because several major submarine fibre-optic cable systems pass through or near the Strait of Hormuz. These cables provide internet connectivity and carry data supporting banking, cloud computing, telecommunications, businesses and other essential services across Gulf countries.
Earlier this year, Iranian media linked to the IRGC had already highlighted the strategic importance of the cables. In May, IRGC-linked Tasnim proposed that Iran could impose fees on companies using submarine cables through the Strait and seek greater control over their maintenance. The proposal was seen as an attempt to turn the region’s digital infrastructure into another source of leverage against Western countries.
Experts have warned that deliberately damaging the cables would be difficult and potentially dangerous for Iran. The cables are underwater, and any attempt to attack them in the heavily contested Strait could trigger a strong military response.
A successful disruption could, however, cause serious connectivity problems for Gulf countries. The impact would not necessarily bring down the entire world’s internet because global communications networks have alternative routes, but countries that rely heavily on cables passing through the Gulf could experience disruptions to internet services, financial transactions and cloud-based systems.
The latest call comes as the confrontation between Iran and the United States continues to widen. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. positions and allies in the Gulf, while the United States has continued military operations against Iranian targets.
The Strait of Hormuz has already suffered major disruption, with shipping traffic sharply reduced amid the conflict. Iran has also expanded restrictions on vessels attempting to pass through the waterway, further increasing pressure on global energy markets.
The possibility of attacks on internet infrastructure adds a new dimension to the crisis. Beyond oil tankers, ports and military installations, the undersea cables that support modern communications are increasingly being viewed as strategic assets.
For Gulf states, technology companies and international telecommunications operators, the latest Iranian rhetoric is therefore likely to increase concerns about the security and reliability of the region’s digital connections.
