Iran fires a fresh threat: After oil, your Insta reels, Amazon deliveries, WhatsApp chats and Netflix streams could be the next target
Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari wrote to X: “We will impose fees on internet cables.”
State-linked media affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later reported that undersea cable operators must comply with Iranian law and pay licensing fees. The reports also stated that repair and maintenance work on these cables may be limited to Iranian companies.
The proposal could affect firms such as Google, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon, whose services rely heavily on the global undersea cable network.
Why are these cables important?
The Strait of Hormuz is known worldwide as one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, but it is also an important digital corridor connecting Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The dense network of fiber optic cables beneath the waterway carries financial transactions, cloud computing traffic, artificial intelligence data, military communications, and internet services used daily around the world.
Any major outage could affect banking systems, stock market trading, international payments and internet connectivity in various regions. Experts say even temporary outages can slow down the digital services that businesses and consumers rely on.
Iranian state media and the Tasnim news agency are increasingly highlighting the vulnerability of these cables. A report warned that “simultaneous damage to several major cables” could trigger major internet outages in the Gulf region. According to TeleGeography research director Alan Mauldin, most international cable operators have historically avoided Iranian waters due to security concerns and instead routed cables along the Omani side of the strait.
However, two major cable systems, Falcon and Gulf Bridge International (GBI), still pass through Iranian territorial waters.
Concerns about application and repairs
It remains unclear how Iran would implement such a plan, especially since US sanctions prohibit American companies from making payments to Tehran.
Experts also warn that cable maintenance may become difficult if the tension in the region increases further. Repair ships often must remain stationary for long periods of time while repairing damaged subsea infrastructure, making operations in conflict zones risky.
Although internet traffic can often be rerouted through alternative networks, a large-scale disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could still impact connectivity and digital services in parts of Asia, the Middle East, Europe and East Africa.
India may also face disruptions to parts of international internet traffic due to the region’s role in connecting Asian and European digital networks.
Iran-US ceasefire remains fragile
The latest developments come as tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States continue despite a fragile ceasefire reached in April.
After his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump warned Tehran that “the clock is ticking” and said that Iran “must act FAST, or there will be nothing left of them.”
At the same time, Iranian officials continued to issue warnings to Washington and Gulf states perceived to support Israel. Senior Iranian lawmaker Esmail Kowsari has warned the UAE that Tehran will respond “stronger” if Abu Dhabi continues to support US and Israeli operations.
CNN also reported that Trump met with top national security officials over the weekend to discuss the next phase of the Iran conflict amid concerns about disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil prices.
