Iran Threatens the Hormuz Internet Cables: Four Gulf States Have No Subsea Route That Avoids the Strait

Iran Named the Cables Before Naming the Targets On October 19, IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi told a ceremony in Tehran that seven major internet cables run beneath the Strait of Hormuz, and that new targets and new weapons would be unveiled. He added that this time the response would be much harsher.

Earlier in October, Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei said Iran could strike U.S.-linked cables, data centers and AI facilities in a new war. In May, the IRGC said every cable crossing the strait could be placed under Iranian permits.

The count is close to accurate. Six live cables cross the strait today. 2Africa, AAE-1, FALCON, GBI, Tata TGN-Gulf and OMRAN/EPEG. Two more, FIG and SEA-ME-WE 6, are under construction and due in 2027, which takes the total to eight. Iran’s figure of seven sits between the current and the near-future count, per TeleGeography data.

• 2Africa: Gulf branch to Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman. Meta, Orange, Vodafone, China Mobile, center3, Telecom Egypt, WIOCC, Bayobab. • AAE-1: Qatar branch, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia. Consortium including e&, Ooredoo, Zain, Omantel, Mobily, China Unicom, PCCW. • FALCON: Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Iran. FLAG. • Gulf Bridge International: Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Iran. • Tata TGN-Gulf: Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman. • OMRAN/EPEG: Oman at Khasab, Diba and Barka, and Iran. Zain Omantel, Vodafone. • FIG (under construction for 2027): Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman. Ooredoo. • SEA-ME-WE 6 (under construction for 2027): Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia.

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