Several tanker ships linked to Iran have been loitering over subsea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, a possible sign that Tehran is preparing to attack undersea infrastructure in the event of renewed US and Israeli strikes.
The maritime intelligence firm Windward tracked the movements of three sanctioned tankers and an Iranian fishing boat near major undersea cables in October, according to the Financial Times.
Six active cables currently cross the Strait of Hormuz, linking the Middle East to Europe, Africa and Asia, with segments of two more cables under construction in the region. Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar depend entirely on subsea telecommunications connections through the strait, and one-third of India's westbound internet traffic goes through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar rely entirely on subsea cables through the Strait of Hormuz, so an attack could sever those countries' connection to the outside world.
- About one-third of India's westbound internet traffic routes through the Persian Gulf and the strait, giving the reported loitering implications well beyond the Gulf.
- The episode signals that undersea communications infrastructure is now a potential front in the confrontation between Iran and the US and Israel.
Background
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, long regarded as one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints for oil shipments. The same waters also carry a large share of regional internet traffic, with cables running through the strait connecting the Middle East to Europe, Africa and Asia. The reported vessel movements come against the backdrop of tensions over possible renewed US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
What to Watch
- Whether tracking data shows the tankers and fishing boat continuing to loiter over cable routes or moving away.
- Any renewed US or Israeli strikes on Iran, the event the reported positioning appears designed to respond to.
- Developments involving the two subsea cable segments under construction in the region, which are part of the same infrastructure network.