Iran Threatens Gulf Undersea Cable Attacks if War Resumes

Iran has drawn up detailed plans to attack undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel launch another attack, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters, warning Washington not to "play with fire." The officials, speaking anonymously, said Iran would aim to prevent repairs after any attacks to prolong disruptions, targeting everything from cables to military bases with "no more red lines." One official claimed Iran had full access to the cables and could easily destroy them, following a Revolutionary Guards deputy's warning about seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz. Undersea cables carry about 99% of global internet traffic, but less than 1% of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz, limiting global impact. The threats aim to pressure Gulf states and US companies to urge President Donald Trump against policies risking their regional investments, though the Red Sea could offer a more significant target with Houthi support.