Iran threatens to sever Gulf internet cables in retaliation for renewed US, Israeli attacks

What Happened

Two senior Iranian security officials and Yadollah Javani, deputy head of political affairs for the IRGC, stated that Iran has developed plans to target undersea internet cables in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for any future military strikes by the United States or Israel. The officials claimed that Iran possesses the capability to destroy these cables and intends to prevent subsequent repairs to maximize communication disruptions. This follows previous Iranian strikes in March that damaged infrastructure near Amazon Web Services facilities in the UAE and Bahrain.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The threats represent an attempt by Tehran to deter renewed military conflict by leveraging the vulnerability of Gulf states' digital infrastructure, which has seen significant investment from US technology firms. By signaling that regional economic hubs and data centers are potential targets, Iran aims to pressure Washington through its Gulf allies and corporate stakeholders who fear for their regional investments.

Watch For

Monitor for any further military escalations between Iran and the United States or Israel, as well as potential security hardening measures taken by Gulf states and US technology companies to protect subsea and terrestrial connectivity infrastructure.