Digital Doomsday: Iran Threatens Global Internet "Arteries" in Strait of Hormuz 

The Strait of Hormuz is no longer just about oil tankers. In a chilling strategic shift, Tehran has officially signaled that the world's digital survival is now in its crosshairs. Iranian state-linked outlets, including Tasnim News, have begun publishing detailed maps of the high-capacity fiber-optic cables snaking across the seabed, framing them as "critical vulnerabilities" in the ongoing war with the West.

Critical Digital Chokepoint

According to the International Telecommunication Union, submarine cables carry approximately 99% of global internet traffic. Several major systems run directly through or near the Strait of Hormuz, including:

These cables connect India, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf states to Europe via Egypt, handling enormous volumes of data, financial transactions, cloud services, and communications.

Gulf countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have poured billions into AI, data centers, and digital infrastructure, making them especially exposed. Any significant damage could trigger widespread internet slowdowns, disrupt cloud computing, delay stock trades, and paralyze parts of the global economy.

Heightened Risks in Wartime

While most cable damage (150–200 incidents per year) is accidental, caused by anchors or fishing, a deliberate or collateral attack in an active conflict zone would be far more serious. Repairs in the Hormuz area would face extreme delays due to naval mines, military activity, and insurance restrictions.

The warning comes after reported damage to Amazon cloud facilities in Bahrain and the UAE earlier in the conflict. Although no cables have been directly severed yet, the precedent of the 2024 Red Sea cable cuts (caused by a drifting struck ship) has raised alarms.