Iran has just unveiled a detailed map of undersea internet fiber-optic cables crossing the Strait of Hormuz, claiming these cables are highly vulnerable to attack.

The report states that at least seven major undersea cables pass through the strait;

Over 97% of global e-commerce, cloud services, and internet communication traffic worldwide travels via these cables.

The report refers to the strait as the "fragile Achilles' heel" of the Gulf region's digital economy.

Iran’s move is a carefully calculated geopolitical maneuver, with its core objective being: to establish a new, highly destructive strategic deterrent in asymmetric conflict.

By releasing this detailed map of undersea cables, Iran is not merely sharing information—it is weaving together multiple strategic intentions, primarily including:

* Asymmetric Deterrence: The Strategic Shift from “Energy” to “Information”

Iran aims to clearly convey a message: its deterrence capability has surpassed traditional tactics such as blocking oil tankers. By precisely mapping the cable infrastructure, it demonstrates to the world its ability to sever the lifeblood of the global economy in the digital age, thereby gaining leverage far exceeding its actual military strength during negotiations.

* Political Pressure: Warning Gulf Neighbors, Responding to External Threats

This serves as a warning to countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE: if they continue allowing their territories to be used as platforms for opposing Iran, their digital economies will face devastating consequences.

This move also represents a strong countermeasure against America’s ongoing maritime blockade. Following Israel’s strikes on Iran’s petrochemical facilities—which have severely damaged Iran’s economy—showcasing the “digital card” aims to achieve strategic parity in deterrence.

* Shifting Focus, Boosting Morale, Uniting Internal Forces

Currently, Iran faces severe economic hardship due to attacks on its infrastructure. Highlighting external threats effectively redirects public attention from internal crises toward an external “enemy.”

While the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps takes direct military actions in the Strait of Hormuz, releasing this information through media channels aims to demonstrate Iran’s firm stance and national defense capabilities both domestically and internationally.

* Testing International Reactions: Probing “Red Lines” and Seeking Leverage

This action can also be seen as a reconnaissance operation. By introducing the unprecedented threat of attacking undersea cables, Iran seeks to test the reaction thresholds of the United States and the international community, gauge the level of panic in global financial and technology markets, and thus identify new bargaining chips to increase uncertainty in future negotiations.

Iran’s move marks a new dimension in geopolitical conflict. With over 97% of global data traffic exposed to potential physical threats, the struggle over the Strait of Hormuz has evolved from being a “chokepoint for oil” to a contest over the “digital nerve center” of the world.

The Persian civilization has endured for thousands of years—not by accident. From ancient times to the present, the cultural, ethnic, and linguistic core of Persian civilization has always remained firmly anchored within modern-day Iran. Can the United States destroy Iran using modern warfare? In terms of generational lineage, even the American grandchildren’s grandchildren wouldn’t come close.

From this confrontation, despite the vast disparity in power, the resilience and survival wisdom of the Iranian people stand out commendably. On the other hand, powerful America finds itself trapped—unable to fight, yet unwilling to withdraw, caught in a deeply awkward position.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863186952544332/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.