Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatens to target underwater internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S. attacks, potentially disrupting global internet and data transmission.
Macro & Markets ·
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has indicated it would target submarine cables running through the Strait of Hormuz in response to further U.S. military action, according to FARS. Seven major undersea cables cross the waterway, serving as critical infrastructure for worldwide internet connectivity and commercial data flows.
The threat reflects escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington and introduces a new dimension of potential disruption beyond conventional military exchanges. Targeting subsea cables would carry immediate global consequences, as the systems carry the vast majority of international data traffic and underpin financial transactions, communications, and digital services worldwide.
The immediate trigger and full scope of any such Iranian response remain unclear. It is not yet established whether the threat represents a formal policy commitment or constitutes rhetorical posturing, nor has there been clarification on what specific U.S. actions would constitute the threshold for implementation.