Business · Malaysia Bureau
Iran threatens to target Gulf undersea internet cables if conflict escalates
Iranian officials have warned they could attack major submarine internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz if regional tensions escalate into armed conflict. The move would potentially cripple digital communications and financial services across the region.
LSN Malaysia ·
An official from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps indicated the country could target seven major undersea cables running through the strategic Strait of Hormuz as part of its military strategy in a potential conflict scenario. The cables form critical infrastructure for internet connectivity and financial transactions throughout the Middle East and beyond.
The threat underscores the vulnerability of global digital infrastructure concentrated in chokepoint regions. Damage to submarine cables can severely degrade internet speeds, disrupt banking operations, and impact e-commerce across dependent nations and territories.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-third of global maritime petroleum traffic passes, has long been identified as a potential flashpoint for regional tensions. Undersea infrastructure in the waterway has repeatedly been highlighted as a potential target in various conflict scenarios discussed by military analysts and officials across multiple nations.
Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations maintain significant digital and financial connections to Middle Eastern markets, making any disruption to critical undersea infrastructure a matter of regional concern. Regional governments and businesses have increasingly focused on diversifying connectivity routes and strengthening resilience against potential infrastructure disruptions.