Tehran, May 21: A temporary ceasefire between Iran and the United States continues, but concerns are rising globally regarding the future of undersea cables. This apprehension is partly due to threats made by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in April. On Thursday, Iranian MP Mahmoud Nabavian echoed similar sentiments, stating that if any action is taken against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, they would cut the undersea cables.
So far, Iran has not damaged the undersea internet cables, but it has issued warnings regarding potential actions. This warning specifically targets fiber-optic cables traversing the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC released a statement in response to increasing pressure and sanctions from the U.S. and Western nations.
It was clearly stated that if pressure escalates or a naval blockade occurs, Iran could respond strategically. Several critical submarine cables, such as Falcon and AAE-1, are vital for internet and digital services in Gulf countries. Nations like Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait heavily depend on these cables.
On Thursday, Nabavian issued a warning on X, stating, “Iran could cut the undersea internet cables, which would disrupt global internet services, the digital economy, and the banking system for years.”
According to Nabavian, any hostile actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran’s sovereignty in Hormuz would inevitably lead to a global crisis. He emphasized, “There will be no compromise on Iran’s sovereignty.”
If these cables are damaged, internet services, digital networks, and banking systems in many parts of the Middle East could be affected. However, experts believe the global impact would be limited, with minimal effects on internet traffic worldwide.
Nonetheless, many technical experts have previously noted that cutting these cables at such depths is not an easy task. Such an action could also result in significant economic and strategic losses for Iran.
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