Iran plans fees on undersea internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced plans to impose fees on undersea internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could affect major global technology companies and the flow of digital traffic between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari declared on the social media platform X, “We will impose fees on internet cables,” without specifying a timeline or enforcement mechanism.

The proposal, first reported by Iranian state-linked media, would require companies such as Google, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon to comply with Iranian law and pay licensing fees for cable passage. Under the outlined plan, repair and maintenance rights would be given exclusively to Iranian firms. Iranian media have described the strait as a strategic asset for revenue generation and have issued veiled warnings that traffic could be disrupted if companies do not cooperate.

Several major submarine cable systems run through the Strait of Hormuz, including the Asia Africa Europe 1 (AAE 1), the FALCON network, and the Gulf Bridge International Cable System. According to Alan Mauldin, research director at telecommunications research firm TeleGeography, two of these cables,...