Iran-Linked Media Warns of Hormuz Cable Vulnerabilities

Iran-linked media has issued a stark warning about the vulnerability of undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz, mapping out routes that carry a substantial share of regional and global data traffic amid ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf.

The report, published by Tasnim News Agency, details at least seven major submarine cable systems, including AAE1, FALCON, Gulf Bridge International, TGNGulf, and SEAMEWE, that pass through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. These fiber-optic networks, laid at depths of up to 200 meters, form the primary backbone for internet connectivity linking Gulf states to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Officials and analysts estimate that a significant portion of international data flows, including up to 30 percent of global traffic when combined with routes through the Red Sea, relies on these cables for e-commerce, cloud computing, financial transactions, and communications.

The publication highlights how the concentration of these cables in such a confined corridor exposes them to potential disruption, whether from accidents or deliberate acts. It notes that Persian Gulf countries, such as the United Arab...