# IRGC Threatens Global Internet Infrastructure via Strait of Hormuz Cables Iranian officials claim control over critical undersea data routes using AI-generated imagery. - **Source:** [Latest news RSS](https://feeds.ibtimes.co.uk/feeds/bhsz8.rss) - **Published:** 2026-10-19 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e6a247ad-78d3-4340-b75e-f1c9364f57fd ## IRGC Targets Digital Infrastructure Brigadier General Hossein Mohebi, the IRGC spokesman, recently issued a warning regarding undersea cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed the world's internet depends on these seven conduits, sharing an AI-generated missile image on X. This rhetoric aims to signal potential disruption capabilities to regional adversaries and international observers alike. ## Strategic Deterrence and Threats Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, previously estimated regional digital assets at two trillion dollars. He suggested these data centers and AI facilities are within range during conflict. Analysts like Andreas Krieg interpret these statements as deterrence tactics aimed at Washington, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Doha. ## Technical Reality of Bandwidth Industry analysis from inCyber contradicts the claim that the world's internet relies on these specific cables. Data indicates that cables in the Strait of Hormuz account for less than one percent of global international bandwidth. While a total outage would cause significant regional disruption, it would not trigger a global blackout. ## Cable Infrastructure and Redundancy The International Cable Protection Committee reports five active submarine cable segments currently cross the strait. Modern network architecture is specifically designed to reroute traffic through alternative submarine or land-based connections during outages. These engineering redundancies mitigate the risk of total isolation, even if specific regional nodes face temporary service degradation. ## Regional Vulnerability Disparities Exposure to potential disruption is not uniform across the Gulf. Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq face higher risks due to limited route diversity. Conversely, the UAE lands most systems at Fujairah, outside the chokepoint, while Saudi Arabia relies heavily on Red Sea coast cables, providing them with more robust connectivity alternatives. ## Iran's Domestic Network Strategy Iran has spent over a decade developing its National Information Network to ensure domestic connectivity. Analysts suggest that prolonged disruption would impact neighboring economies more severely than Iran itself. However, a domestic network does not equate to full international access, highlighting the complexity of Iran's own digital isolation and strategic positioning. ## Economic Diversification Risks Gulf nations are currently investing heavily in artificial intelligence and data center capacity to diversify their economies. This shift ties their financial stability directly to international connectivity and American technology firms. Damage to these cables could disrupt essential banking, cloud services, and business communications, creating significant economic friction for the region. ## Future of Digital Security The focus on undersea cables marks a shift toward targeting strategic infrastructure that underpins modern economic growth. While the global internet remains resilient due to rerouting capabilities, the immediate concern remains regional stability. Future security assessments must account for how these digital chokepoints influence geopolitical leverage in the Middle East. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/iran-hormuz-undersea-cables-gulf-internet-risk-1826587 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._