Iran Reportedly Plans Attacks on Subsea Cables in Strait of Hormuz
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Iran has reportedly prepared plans to damage seven undersea communication cables in the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for potential US-Israeli attacks. Experts warn that while over 99% of global data travels via subsea cables, only a small fraction passes through Hormuz, limiting the global impact. Israel's main cables are in the Mediterranean, and the primary concern is the difficulty of repairs in a conflict zone.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Iran reportedly plans to attack seven undersea communication cables in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The planned attacks are a response to potential renewed American-Israeli military action.
- Over 99% of global data traffic relies on undersea fiber optic cables.
- Less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz, limiting global impact.
- Israel's primary communication cables are routed through the Mediterranean Sea.
- Repairing damaged cables in a combat zone poses a significant challenge, potentially causing long-term disruptions.
Iran has reportedly developed contingency plans to target seven key undersea communication cables in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Reuters. These plans are said to be a response to any renewed American-Israeli attack. A senior official in the Revolutionary Guards also warned in Tehran that the regime intends to actively prevent the repair of these cables after any damage.
Communication experts note that over 99% of global data traffic travels through undersea fiber optic cables, and damaging them could disrupt internet access, cloud services, and financial systems. However, the research firm TeleGeography suggests that less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz. This indicates that the primary threat would likely affect Gulf states directly rather than disconnecting the global internet.
For Israel, the main communication cables to Europe run through the Mediterranean Sea, such as the JONAH cable. Experts believe Israel would not be directly impacted by the threat in the Persian Gulf. The most significant concern highlighted by professionals is the difficulty of repairing such infrastructure in a combat zone. As demonstrated by incidents with Red Sea cables in 2024, blocking access for repair ships could prolong regional communication disruptions for months.
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