Iran Warns of New Targets Near Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has signalled a possible expansion of its military targeting rhetoric to include strategically important digital infrastructure amid continuing tensions with the United States. By drawing attention to major internet cables crossing the Strait of Hormuz, IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi warned that new targets and weapons would be unveiled. He did not explicitly declare the cables to be confirmed attack targets. However, the remarks follow a separate warning from Iran’s top security official that undersea cables, data centres and artificial intelligence facilities linked to US interests could be targeted if hostilities resume.

The report was obtained by Anadolu Agency via Iran's state-run broadcasters IRIB and Press TV, as well as Al Jazeera and Telegraph sources.

IRGC highlights seven undersea cables

On Monday, October 19, Mohebbi spoke at an event at Tehran’s Sacred Defense Museum. According to reporting by Anadolu Agency, citing Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC spokesman drew attention to seven major internet cables running beneath the Strait of Hormuz.

“Seven major internet cables run beneath the Strait of Hormuz,” Mohebbi said, claiming that internet and commercial data traffic passed through them.

“We just want them to know that new targets will be unveiled. New weapons will be unveiled,” he added.

Mohebbi did not identify specific cable systems or facilities that would be attacked. Nor did he provide details about the weapons or capabilities Iran intends to unveil, or when such an announcement might take place.

He also vowed to eliminate what he described as the remaining US influence and power across the Middle East. His remarks came amid continuing disputes over maritime movement, energy transportation and regional security around the Strait of Hormuz.

Why undersea cables matter

Submarine fibre-optic cables form a critical part of the global communications infrastructure. They carry international internet traffic, financial transactions, business data, cloud services and information exchanged by digital platforms. Their importance extends beyond telecommunications companies to banks, governments, businesses and everyday users who depend on international connectivity.

The Strait of Hormuz is important not only for energy shipments but also for digital connections serving countries around the Persian Gulf. According to telecommunications research firm TeleGeography, cable systems traversing the strait include Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1), FALCON and the Gulf Bridge International Cable System. The impact of damage would depend on the alternative routes available to individual network operators.

However, highlighting seven cables in the strait does not mean that the entire global internet depends on those systems. Mohebbi’s statement that all internet and commercial data traffic passes through them should be treated as his claim, not as an independently established technical fact. TeleGeography notes that Gulf countries have some terrestrial alternatives to submarine routes, although those networks may not have enough capacity to reroute all traffic if multiple undersea systems are disrupted.

Iran has also threatened data centres and AI facilities

Earlier in October, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned in an interview with state broadcaster Press TV that Tehran could target undersea internet cables, data centres and artificial intelligence facilities linked to the United States if a new war broke out.

“We have not yet included these assets among our targets,” Rezaei said, warning that such infrastructure could be destroyed in a renewed conflict.

The warning points to a broader category of potential targets: the physical infrastructure underpinning cloud computing, digital business operations and AI services.

In an October 13 explainer, Al Jazeera reported that two Amazon Web Services (AWS) facilities in the United Arab Emirates were directly struck by drones in March, while an attack near another facility in Bahrain caused physical damage to infrastructure. The incidents highlighted how digital services can be disrupted by damage to physical facilities, even when the underlying software and networks remain intact.

Data centres support cloud computing, banking applications, business software, AI models and numerous online services. Their operation depends on reliable electricity, cooling systems and telecommunications connections. Disruption to any of these critical components can affect services well beyond the facility itself, potentially impacting customers, companies and other connected systems.

What could happen if undersea cables are damaged?

Damage to submarine cables can slow internet connections, increase latency, disrupt international traffic and place additional pressure on alternative routes. The scale of disruption depends on the number of cables affected, their capacity, the network architecture of the countries involved and the availability of backup connections.

It would be inaccurate to assume that damage to cables in the Strait of Hormuz would automatically shut down the global internet. The more immediate risks would be concentrated in networks and countries that rely heavily on the affected routes, although knock-on effects could extend to international services.

TeleGeography’s analysis notes that terrestrial links provide alternatives for some Gulf states, but those routes may not be sufficient to carry all traffic diverted from damaged submarine systems. Repairing cables in a conflict zone can also be difficult: specialist repair vessels need permission to enter the relevant waters and assurances that work can be carried out safely. Such obstacles could delay the restoration of connectivity.

Not all cable damage results from deliberate attacks. Dragging anchors, fishing activity and maritime accidents are among the common causes of submarine cable faults. In a conflict zone, attacks on vessels and dangerous shipping conditions could increase the risk of accidental damage as well.

The wider conflict over Hormuz

The United States and Israel began a war against Iran on February 28. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively halted maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington subsequently imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

In June, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding concerning freedom of navigation through the strait. Implementation later stalled amid disagreements over security arrangements and the management of the strategic waterway. Al Jazeera has reported that, although the June understanding reduced the intensity of active hostilities, tensions surrounding vessels transiting the strait have continued.

Against this backdrop, Iran’s references to digital infrastructure could signal an attempt to broaden the scope of deterrence beyond conventional military assets and maritime trade. But a warning is not the same as a confirmed operational decision. Mohebbi did not explicitly announce that the seven cables under the strait had been placed on a final attack list.

Digital infrastructure becomes a security concern

The latest warning underscores a central vulnerability of the digital economy: a substantial share of international communications depends on physical infrastructure concentrated along specific sea routes, coastal landing stations and data-centre locations.

Reducing that vulnerability requires geographically diverse cable routes, terrestrial connectivity, multiple data-centre locations, backup power and cooling systems, and the capacity to repair damaged infrastructure quickly. Redundancy can improve resilience, but it does not eliminate risk; alternative routes must also have sufficient capacity and avoid the same geographic vulnerabilities.

A renewed escalation around the Strait of Hormuz could therefore affect more than oil shipments and maritime commerce. It could also threaten regional internet connectivity, cloud services, financial transactions and AI infrastructure. The issue is no longer confined to military strategy or energy security: it has become directly connected to the resilience of international digital communications.

//DBTech/IMS/SMP/MVNO//