Iran calls Strait of Hormuz undersea cables 'legitimate new targets'

Revolutionary Guard says seven cables carry the region's internet and commercial data; analysts call the threat credible as the conflict cools but does not end

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has declared the undersea fibre cables running through the Strait of Hormuz "legitimate new targets" in its conflict with the United States, Israel and others, raising the prospect that the global communications network could become part of the battlefield.

Iran has described seven undersea fibre cables running through the Strait of Hormuz as "legitimate new targets" for future assaults, according to comments reported by The Telegraph.

General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said at an event this week that "seven large cables pass beneath the Strait of Hormuz, and all internet and commercial data pass through them." He described the cables as "legitimate new targets" for future attacks.

Another IRGC general, Yadollah Javani, the corps' political deputy, has suggested that if Iranian infrastructure is attacked, Iran would respond by attacking the cables, according to comments reported by Iran International.

The conflict, which began with military action by the United States, Israel and others in February, has cooled but is not over. Mohebbi hinted at a "third phase" in the war that would reveal a "new geography" including "new targets and new weapons."

One cable referenced by the Guard appears to match the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 cable, which stretches about 15,050 miles from Asia to Europe through Oman, the UAE and Qatar. Both the UAE and Qatar share maritime borders with Iran.

Experts believe the threat is credible. Professor Alesso Patalano, a war and strategy professor at King's College London, told The Telegraph that "not only is it possible, but it's been a rather clear possibility for a long time," adding that divers could "go down to the seabed... and cut them or destroy them." He pointed to the 2022 attack on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline near Denmark as an example of such sabotage.

An unnamed Iranian spokesman told The Telegraph that Tehran had considered cutting the cables several times since the war began but had avoided doing so, as it would mean "declaring war on the whole world and building new enemies." It would remain "an option if Trump escalates," he said.

Iran is not the only country taking an interest in undersea infrastructure. A Russian ship was chased from British waters by a Royal Navy attack helicopter earlier this year after loitering for 14 hours less than a mile from five cables that connect the UK with Spain, Portugal, Canada and the US.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The Guard says all internet and commercial data moving through the strait passes on these seven cables, so an attack could disrupt communications across several continents.
It would widen an already dangerous conflict beyond oil shipping, the traditional flashpoint of the strait, into the global data economy.
The "third phase" Mohebbi describes could bring a new geography of targets, and governments will have to decide how to protect infrastructure that is difficult to defend.

Background

For decades the Strait of Hormuz has been known as one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints because of the oil tankers that move through it, and Iran has periodically threatened to disrupt shipping there during past standoffs. Since the start of military action by the United States, Israel and others in February, the strait has been a live conflict zone. The latest threat extends a growing trend in which states treat undersea infrastructure as a strategic target, following the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Western navies are also watching for suspicious activity around cable routes, as the Royal Navy's interception of a Russian vessel near UK cables this year illustrates.

Key Perspectives

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: presents the cables as a legitimate military target, pointing to a coming "third phase" of the war with new targets and weapons. Its political deputy frames any cable attack as retaliation for strikes on Iranian infrastructure. Iranian caution: an unnamed spokesman says Tehran has repeatedly weighed cutting the cables but held back, fearing it would mean "declaring war on the whole world and building new enemies." The option stays open "if Trump escalates." Western analysts and navies: Professor Patalano and other experts treat the threat as credible and long foreseeable. The Royal Navy's response to the Russian ship loitering near UK cables shows allied militaries already regard undersea infrastructure as a vulnerable strategic asset.

What to Watch

Whether the promised "third phase" produces actual attacks on undersea infrastructure or remains a deterrent threat.
The course of US and Israeli operations, which the unnamed spokesman says would determine whether the cable option is exercised.
Allied moves to protect cable routes, including naval patrols and the tracking of ships loitering near cable corridors.

Sources

Iran threatens to attack undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz, calls them 'legitimate new targets' in future conflict · Latest from Tom's Hardware

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

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SupportedIran’s Revolutionary Guard calls the Strait of Hormuz undersea cables “legitimate new targets.”Latest from Tom's Hardware: “General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesman for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, referred to the cables in comments at an event this week, The Telegraph reports. He went on to describe the cables as "legitimate new targets" for future assaults.”
SupportedSeven cables pass under the Strait of Hormuz and carry internet and commercial data.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “"Seven large cables pass beneath the Strait of Hormuz, and all internet and commercial data pass through them," according to Mohebbi.”
Partly supportedThe conflict is between Iran and the United States, Israel and others, and began with military action in February.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “The area has become a hotbed of conflict since the start of military action by the United States, Israel and others in February. ... The conflict between the United States and Iran has cooled, but it isn't quite over yet.”
SupportedThe cable threat raises the prospect that the global communications network could become part of the battlefield.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “"Seven large cables pass beneath the Strait of Hormuz, and all internet and commercial data pass through them," according to Mohebbi. He went on to describe the cables as "legitimate new targets" for future assaults.”
SupportedMohebbi said at an event this week that seven large cables pass beneath the Strait and that all internet and commercial data pass through them.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesman for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, referred to the cables in comments at an event this week, The Telegraph reports. "Seven large cables pass beneath the Strait of Hormuz, and all internet and commercial data pass through them," according to Mohebbi.”
SupportedMohebbi referred to a “third phase” that would reveal a “new geography” with “new targets and new weapons.”Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Mohebbi suggested that a "third phase" in the war would reveal a "new geography" that would include "new targets and new weapons."”
SupportedYadollah Javani suggested Iran would attack the cables if Iranian infrastructure were attacked.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Meanwhile, another IRGC General, Yadollah Javani, who serves as the IRGC's political deputy, has since suggested that if Iranian infrastructure is attacked, Iran will respond by attacking the cables, according to comments reported by Iran International.”
SupportedThe conflict has cooled but is not over.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “The conflict between the United States and Iran has cooled, but it isn't quite over yet.”
SupportedThe Asia-Africa-Europe-1 cable is about 15,050 miles long and runs from Asia to Europe through Oman, the UAE and Qatar.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “One particular cable referenced by the IRGC appears to match the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 cable, a cable stretching 15,050 miles from Asia to Europe, traveling through Oman, the UAE and Qatar.”
SupportedProfessor Alesso Patalano said the threat was possible and divers could cut or destroy the cables from the seabed.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Professor Alesso Patalano, a war and strategy professor at King's College London, told The Telegraph that "not only is it possible, but it's been a rather clear possibility for a long time," adding that divers could "go down to the seabed... and cut them or destroy them."”
SupportedAn unnamed Iranian spokesman said Tehran had considered cutting the cables several times, avoided doing so, and would keep it as an option if Trump escalated.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Meanwhile, further comments, made to The Telegraph, suggest that Iran had considered cutting the cables several times since the war began. However, up until now, Tehran had avoided doing so, as it would mean "declaring war on the whole world and building new enemies," according to another unnamed Iranian spokesman, although stating that it would continue to be "an option if Trump escalates."”
SupportedA Russian ship was chased from British waters by a Royal Navy attack helicopter after loitering for 14 hours less than a mile from five cables connecting the UK with Spain, Portugal, Canada and the US.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “A Russian ship, for instance, was chased from British waters by a Royal Navy attack helicopter earlier this year as it loitered for 14 hours less than a mile from five undersea cables that connect the UK with Spain, Portugal, Canada, and the U.S.”