Reuters reported that two senior Iranian security officials described contingency plans to attack submarine communications cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel renew military strikes against Iran.
One official said Iran could attempt to prevent repairs to prolong communications disruptions. The officials did not provide independently verifiable operational details.
Telecommunications analysts noted that less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz, limiting the likely global effect, although simultaneous cable disruptions could significantly affect regional connectivity.
No new cable attack was independently established by the report. Reuters
Source: Reuters — Iran's reported submarine cable contingency plans, October 23
Why it matters strategically
The development introduces a different dimension of geopolitical risk.
The Strait of Hormuz is conventionally evaluated through its importance to oil and liquefied natural gas transportation.
However, Gulf economies increasingly depend on digital infrastructure supporting financial transactions, cloud computing, telecommunications, and AI services.
A communications disruption could therefore create economic consequences beyond energy markets.
The relevant exposure is not simply the number of cables crossing a maritime chokepoint.
It is the ability of operators to reroute traffic and maintain critical services when infrastructure becomes unavailable.
