Tehran has mapped out a strike plan for the digital arteries of the Gulf, according to two senior Iranian security officials speaking to Reuters. If the US or Israel strikes again, Iran intends to sever undersea cables carrying 99% of global internet traffic. The goal isn't just destruction; it's prolonged paralysis. One official stated that Iran would actively prevent repairs to ensure communications, including internet connections, stay down for as long as possible.
Yadollah Javani, the deputy head of political affairs for Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), specified the targets on Wednesday. He identified seven major internet cables lying beneath the Strait of Hormuz as primary vulnerabilities. "If Iran is attacked, there will be no more red lines," one official warned, adding that Tehran has full access to these cables and the capability to destroy them easily. The warning was explicit: do not "play with fire."
The strategic logic is clear: punish the investors. Top security official Mohsen Rezaei warned that US-linked digital infrastructure, including data centers and AI facilities, is fair game in a renewed conflict. Gulf states have poured billions into becoming AI hubs, deepening ties with US tech giants. The Iranian official pointed out that these governments "should hold Washington, not Tehran, responsible for any damage to undersea cables." Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute, noted that Tehran wants Gulf executives to pressure President Donald Trump over the risks his policies pose to their investment plans.
The actual global impact might be limited, according to Alan Mauldin, research director at TeleGeography. Less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the disruption to regional financial transactions, e-commerce, and cloud computing could be severe. Repairing these lines during wartime is a logistical nightmare, complicated by higher insurance costs and restricted access to territorial waters. The Red Sea remains a more significant potential target, carrying 3% of global international demand, especially if Iran leverages Houthi support in Yemen, though Tehran has not publicly confirmed plans to strike there.
The threat lands in a sensitive moment. Iranian strikes in March already hit two Amazon Web Services facilities in the UAE and damaged infrastructure near one in Bahrain. The IRGC previously named Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Nvidia as legitimate targets. Microsoft plans to invest over $400 million in subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030. The US Department of State and Iran's Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment, and Gulf states remained silent. The next move lies with Washington, deciding whether diplomacy can hold or if the "fire" Iran warned about will be lit.