Iran Warns Undersea Internet Cables in Strait of Hormuz Could Become Targets

Iran has warned that undersea internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz could become a major point of conflict amid escalating tensions with the United States.

According to a report by Times of India on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Brigadier General Hussein Mohebi, spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), raised concerns about the security of the submarine cables that support global internet connectivity and commercial data exchanges.

Mohebi reportedly stated that seven major undersea internet cables pass through the Strait of Hormuz, carrying significant amounts of the world’s internet and commercial data traffic. He warned that any renewed American military action against Iran could have serious consequences for security across the region.

“If the region becomes insecure for Iran, then there will be no security in the region,” Mohebi said, according to the report.

His comments followed a series of warnings from Iranian officials and hardliners suggesting that digital infrastructure across the Persian Gulf could become vulnerable if the confrontation with Washington intensifies.

The undersea cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz serve as important communication links connecting Europe, Asia and the Gulf region. They carry substantial volumes of internet traffic and support international financial transactions, business communications and digital services.

Any damage to these cables could disrupt more than ordinary internet access. Banking operations, military communications, cloud computing, artificial intelligence services, remote work and online entertainment could also face serious interruptions.

Meanwhile, CNN reported that Iran wants major technology companies to pay for using submarine internet cables laid beneath the strategic waterway. Such a demand could introduce another point of tension as countries and businesses seek to protect the infrastructure that supports the global digital economy.

Although the warnings have raised concerns about the safety of undersea communications networks, the report does not establish that Iran has begun attacking the cables. However, the possibility of digital infrastructure becoming entangled in the wider US-Iran confrontation has added another dimension to the growing regional tensions.

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