Iran has threatened to target undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz, raising the prospect of a new front in its conflict with the United States and potential disruption to global communications, banking transactions and financial markets.
According to British newspaper The Telegraph, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman General Hossein Mohebbi described undersea telecommunications infrastructure as “new legitimate targets”.
“Seven major cables pass beneath the Strait of Hormuz, carrying internet and commercial transaction data,” the Iranian official reportedly said, warning that new targets and weapons could be revealed.
Iran warns of a possible third phase of war
Mohebbi said the conflict between Iran and the United States was experiencing a period of relative calm before a possible “third phase”.
During this phase, Tehran could introduce what he described as a “new geography of war”, expanding the range of targets and methods used.
The Telegraph linked the threats to the possibility of renewed US strikes against Iran following the November midterm elections in the United States.
Cable linking Asia, Africa and Europe in focus
Particular attention has centred on an undersea cable network stretching approximately 25,000 kilometres and connecting Southeast Asia with Europe.
The description points to the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) cable system, a major telecommunications route linking the two continents, with landing points in Gulf countries.
An Iranian official told The Telegraph that destroying the cable had been discussed repeatedly in Tehran, although no order to attack it had been issued.
The official reportedly acknowledged that such an operation could amount to a “declaration of war on the whole world”, potentially creating new enemies for Iran.
However, the option could remain under consideration if tensions escalate further under US President Donald Trump.
Banks, hospitals and technology companies at risk
Alessio Patalano, Professor of War and Strategy at King’s College London, told The Telegraph that the threat was technically feasible.
Undersea cables often pass through relatively shallow maritime chokepoints, making them more vulnerable to disruption.
A coordinated attack could affect banking systems, hospitals, cloud services and data centres, according to Patalano. Multinational businesses handling transactions between Europe, the Middle East and Asia could also face disruption.
Damage to the cables could affect Iran’s own digital infrastructure as well.
Patalano stressed that cutting undersea cables would not automatically shut down the internet completely. Some data traffic could be rerouted through alternative networks, although the extent of disruption would depend on the damage and the capacity of other routes.
Possible Russian and Chinese involvement
The report also examined whether Russia or China could provide technological assistance to Iran.
Patalano said foreign expertise could potentially be used, noting existing channels of cooperation between the three countries. However, the report did not provide evidence of specific Russian or Chinese involvement in a plan to attack undersea cables.
The threats highlight the growing strategic importance of undersea telecommunications infrastructure, which carries the vast majority of international data traffic. Damage to key routes could have consequences well beyond the immediate conflict, affecting digital services, businesses and financial networks across several regions.
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