Iran’s Undersea Cable Threat: Could Gulf Internet Be Disrupted?

Iran has reportedly drawn up plans to target undersea internet cables in the Gulf if military conflict with the United States and Israel resumes. The warning has raised concerns about the security of the digital infrastructure that supports internet connectivity, financial transactions and cloud services across the Middle East.

In a report published on October 23, 2026, Reuters cited two senior Iranian security officials who said Tehran had developed plans to strike undersea communications cables if the country faced renewed US and Israeli attacks.

One official also warned that Iran could seek to delay repairs following any attack, potentially extending disruptions. However, the officials provided few operational details, and the report does not say that a new attack on the cables has taken place.

Why Are Undersea Internet Cables So Important?

Much of the world's international digital communication travels through fibre-optic cables laid across the ocean floor. These networks connect countries and continents, carrying data for websites, messaging platforms, video calls, banking services and cloud computing.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, submarine cables carry approximately 99% of global internet traffic. They form the backbone of international connectivity and allow data to travel between distant regions at high capacity.

The Strait of Hormuz is strategically important because it connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is internationally known as a major energy-shipping route, but it also contains communications infrastructure serving countries around the Gulf.

What Has Iran Threatened?

Iranian officials have warned that undersea communications infrastructure could become a target if Iranian infrastructure is attacked again. Revolutionary Guards official Yadollah Javani said on October 21 that seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz could be targeted.

The two senior Iranian security officials who spoke to Reuters subsequently described plans for possible attacks if the conflict with the United States and Israel resumed.

One official said Tehran would seek to prevent repairs after an attack in order to prolong communications disruptions. The officials did not publicly explain exactly how or where such operations might be carried out.

Could Gulf Internet Services Be Affected?

If several important cable systems were damaged at the same time, internet operators could face pressure to reroute data through alternative networks. The effects would depend on the number of cables affected, the capacity of other routes and how individual providers manage their traffic.

Possible consequences of a significant disruption could include:

• Slower internet connections: Rerouting traffic could increase congestion for some users and services.
• Online banking delays: Cross-border financial transactions could be affected if connectivity becomes unstable.
• Cloud service interruptions: Businesses that depend on remote servers and cloud platforms could experience connectivity problems.
• E-commerce disruption: Online stores, payment systems and digital businesses could face delays or service interruptions.
• Longer recovery periods: Repair vessels could encounter security risks, insurance difficulties and delays in obtaining permission to operate in affected waters.

These are potential outcomes rather than confirmed effects of a new incident. A cable cut would not automatically disconnect every country in the region because network operators can reroute some traffic through other available connections.

Would the Entire World Lose Internet Access?

A disruption to cables in the Strait of Hormuz would not, by itself, mean that the entire world would lose internet access.

TeleGeography research director Alan Mauldin told Reuters that less than 1% of global international bandwidth passes through the strait. This suggests that the direct global impact of a disruption confined to this waterway could be limited, although individual Gulf countries and businesses relying on affected routes could face serious problems.

The consequences would depend on the scale of the damage and the availability of alternative routes. Multiple simultaneous cuts could create more significant challenges than a single damaged cable.

Land-based networks can provide alternative connections, and countries in the region have been investing in additional connectivity infrastructure. However, alternative routes may not have enough spare capacity to absorb every disruption immediately.

Why Could Cable Repairs Take Time?

Repairing a damaged submarine cable requires specialised vessels, equipment and access to the affected section of the seabed. The physical repair is only one part of the process.

In a conflict zone, repair companies may have to consider the safety of their crews, insurance costs, maritime restrictions and permission to enter territorial waters. If repairs are deliberately delayed or several cables are damaged, the restoration process could become more complicated.

This is why the reported Iranian warning about preventing repairs has drawn attention. A prolonged outage could be more damaging than a short interruption, particularly for businesses that depend on reliable international data connections.

Could the Threat Affect AI and Technology Companies?

The issue extends beyond ordinary internet browsing. Gulf countries have invested heavily in data centres, cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure as part of efforts to diversify their economies.

These facilities depend on reliable electricity and high-capacity communications networks. Disruptions to connectivity could complicate the delivery of cloud services and the movement of data between regional and international systems.

Reuters also reported that Iranian officials have previously warned about US-linked digital infrastructure, including data centres and AI facilities, in the event of renewed conflict.

Technology companies and regional governments are therefore likely to have an interest in maintaining diverse network routes and improving the resilience of critical infrastructure.

What Happens Next?

The immediate question is whether tensions lead to renewed military action or whether diplomatic efforts prevent further escalation. The reported cable plans are conditional on a possible future conflict, and the public information does not establish that an operation against the cables is underway.

Internet operators will also need to rely on contingency planning, alternative routes and coordinated repair arrangements to limit the effects of any future disruption.

For now, the story highlights how military conflict can threaten infrastructure far beyond the battlefield. Undersea cables are largely out of sight, but they support many of the digital services used by households, governments and businesses every day.

Conclusion

Iran's reported plans to target Gulf undersea internet cables add a new dimension to tensions involving the United States and Israel. If the threat were carried out during a renewed conflict, it could disrupt regional communications, complicate repairs and affect services that depend on international data connections.

However, the Strait of Hormuz carries a relatively small share of global international bandwidth, and alternative land-based and undersea routes could reduce the wider impact. The scale of any disruption would depend on what was damaged and how quickly network operators could restore connectivity.

The key point is that a threat has been reported, but a new cable attack has not been confirmed by the cited report.

Sources and Further Reading

• Reuters — Iran has detailed plans to hit Gulf undersea cables if war resumes
• Rudaw — Iran threatens to cut internet cables if war resumes
• Al Jazeera — How exposed is the Gulf's internet infrastructure?

Editorial note: This article describes reported statements and potential consequences. It does not claim that undersea cables have been newly attacked or that an internet outage is currently underway.

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