Breaking: Iran Warns It May Cut Seven Key Undersea Cables in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson, Hussein Mohammadi, issued a stark warning: “We do not rule out the possibility of war. This time, the United States will face serious consequences, and the world could confront a major energy crisis.”
He cautioned that seven major undersea cables lie beneath the Strait of Hormuz, forming a critical backbone for global data flows: “We are reminding them of this, so adversaries will understand.”
Seven primary undersea cables run beneath the Strait of Hormuz, carrying all internet traffic and commercial data across continents. These could become targets should circumstances demand.
Collectively, these cables carry an estimated 40% to 60% of data traffic between Europe and Asia. Transactions in banking, SWIFT messaging, cloud infrastructure, military communications, and satellite telemetry uplinks—all transmitted through glass-fiber cables no thicker than a garden hose—travel at depths ranging from 200 to 3,000 meters below sea level.
For Iran’s small submarine fleet or specialized diving teams deployed from surface vessels, such operations present no insurmountable challenge.
Iran need not sever all seven cables; cutting just three would be sufficient to disrupt global financial messaging systems for at least 72 hours.
The strait’s cable routes, while vital, are relatively shallow compared to deep-sea trunk lines, with most sections lying between 200 and 800 meters deep.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced the establishment of a “Persian Gulf Data Administration,” while National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei warned that over $2 trillion in data centers could be destroyed if hostilities resume.
Contextualized within this backdrop, the latest warning reflects a clear preparation for worst-case scenarios and a demonstrated resolve to escalate beyond conventional limits.
The cables traversing the Strait carry vast volumes of intercontinental data and trillions of dollars in daily financial transactions. A successful strike could erase 70% to 90% of internet connectivity in the Gulf region, bringing global commerce to a halt.
Today, Iran has explicitly stated that if the U.S. strikes its energy infrastructure, the next target will be the digital backbone of the global economy—raising the stakes far beyond oil tankers and shipping lanes.
Fasten your seatbelts. The moment to relax has not yet come.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879514808821824/
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