Iran Threatens Hormuz Internet Cables if Its Infrastructure Is Attacked
Iran has renewed threats against undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the physical infrastructure behind everyday digital services into its confrontation with the United States.
Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ deputy commander for political affairs, discussed the threat in an interview with Iranian state-run Al-Alam television on Wednesday, October 21. According to the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency, he warned that American and allied investments could face retaliation if Iranian infrastructure was damaged. Tasnim: October 21 Javani warning.
Rudaw’s account of the interview quoted Javani saying, “Internet cables will not be safe if our infrastructure is attacked.” That wording matters. It describes a threatened response to an attack, rather than announcing that cables have already been destroyed or setting a publicly verified deadline for doing so. Rudaw: Iran threatens to cut internet cables if war resumes.
A series of warnings
The remarks followed another warning earlier in the week. IranWire reported that IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi identified communications cables beneath Hormuz as potential targets during an October 19 event. His comments paired the cable warning with claims that Iran would respond more severely to renewed American military action. These were statements about possible retaliation, not independently demonstrated capabilities or an announced operation. IranWire: October 19 Mohebi remarks.
The broader threat also predates this week. On October 11, the Associated Press reported that Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei had threatened regional communications cables, data centers and artificial-intelligence facilities if intense fighting resumed. Together, the statements show Iranian officials repeatedly presenting digital infrastructure as potential leverage in the confrontation. Associated Press: October 11 regional cables warning.
Why civilians could feel the impact
Submarine cables support the international connections used by businesses, public institutions and ordinary households. The International Telecommunication Union says they carry more than 99 percent of international data traffic. That is a description of the worldwide cable network, not the share passing through Hormuz. Confusing the two would greatly exaggerate what damage in one waterway could do. ITU: International submarine cable resilience summit.
Disrupted connections can affect access to information, financial transactions, public services and everyday communication. For civilians, the consequences could extend beyond a slow video stream to difficulty reaching online services or maintaining contact across borders. Those are potential consequences of communications disruption, not confirmed effects of the latest Iranian warning. ITU: Submarine cable resilience backgrounder.
A regional risk, not a global off switch
TeleGeography’s assessment of Hormuz explains that the impact of cable damage depends on the networks involved, including whether operators have capacity on other submarine cables or land-based connections. Gulf countries have alternatives, but those alternatives may not be able to absorb all displaced traffic. TeleGeography: Hormuz cable infrastructure assessment.
Its analysis also distinguishes Hormuz from the Red Sea, a separate corridor important to Europe–Asia communications. A threat to cables in Hormuz should therefore not be reported as a straightforward threat to switch off the entire global internet. The more defensible concern is uneven regional disruption, with some users and providers more exposed than others. TeleGeography: Hormuz cable infrastructure assessment.
Recovery matters too
The consequences of damage also depend on how quickly service can be restored. The ITU identifies maintenance, timely repairs, cooperation and diverse routes as central to resilient communications. Conflict adds urgency to those concerns because reliable access is needed while other systems are already under pressure. ITU: International submarine cable resilience summit.
For now, the established story is a renewed Iranian threat against communications infrastructure. Whether it becomes an attack remains unknown. Keeping that distinction clear helps readers understand the civilian stakes without turning a conditional warning into a prediction of war.
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