Iran Plans Internet Cable Attacks Amid Regional Tensions
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Iran is reportedly planning attacks on underwater internet cables in the Persian Gulf as a retaliatory measure against potential U.S. or Israeli strikes. The plan includes disrupting repairs, which could cause significant communication and financial disruptions in Gulf states like the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. While the impact on Israel is expected to be indirect, affecting companies using regional services, a more serious threat would involve attacks on Red Sea cables. Past incidents demonstrate the vulnerability of these critical communication lines.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Iran reportedly plans to attack underwater internet cables in the Persian Gulf as retaliation.
- The plan includes hindering cable repairs to prolong disruptions to communication and financial services.
- The UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are identified as particularly at risk from cable damage.
- Israeli companies using regional cloud and financial services could face indirect impacts from such attacks.
- Past incidents, including Houthi actions in the Red Sea, show the vulnerability of undersea cables.
Iran has reportedly developed plans to target underwater internet cables in the Persian Gulf as a potential retaliatory measure against the United States or Israel. According to two senior Iranian officials cited by Reuters, Tehran views these undersea communications as a possible target for responses to further strikes. The plan also includes hindering cable repairs to prolong the impact of any attacks.
Such sabotage could cause significant disruptions to communication, banking services, and cloud infrastructure across the region, with potential consequences extending beyond directly affected nations. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint, hosts several major internet cables that could be vulnerable during military escalation. The UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are identified as particularly at risk.
Simultaneous damage to multiple cables could slow international payments, online retail, corporate systems, and cloud services, impacting major companies. Countries like the UAE, heavily invested in data centers and AI infrastructure, could face severe economic repercussions, affecting both local users and foreign businesses. While a global internet outage is unlikely due to the relatively small percentage of global traffic routed through the Strait of Hormuz, the impact on individual Gulf states could be severe.
For Israel, the threat is primarily indirect. The country's main international communication channels are not solely reliant on Persian Gulf cables. However, Israeli companies using regional cloud platforms or financial services could experience delays and degraded access. A more significant threat to Israel would arise if attacks were extended to cables in the Red Sea, which are crucial for intercontinental connectivity. There is no current confirmation of such plans by Iran.
The technical feasibility of damaging these cables is established, as they can be affected by ship anchors or deliberate acts during conflict. While Iranian sources have not specified the methods, past incidents illustrate the risks. In 2024, an anchor from a ship attacked by Houthis damaged Red Sea cables, leading to months-long repairs. In September 2025, further Red Sea cable damage caused internet slowdowns in the Middle East and South Asia, highlighting digital infrastructure's dependence on limited routes.
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