Iran warns it will destroy undersea communications networks if the U.S. attacks again, and block repairs as well

[Financial News] Iran has reportedly drawn up a plan to destroy undersea communications networks in Gulf waters in preparation for further military attacks by the U.S. and Israel. The plan is not limited to cutting cables; it also aims to prolong communications disruptions by blocking repair work.
According to foreign media reports on the 23rd (local time), citing senior Iranian security officials, Iran has reportedly drawn up a plan to strike undersea communications cables in response to a resumption of attacks by the U.S. and Israel.
Iranian officials did not disclose specific attack locations or methods. They said the goal was to keep communications services, including the internet, out of operation for an extended period by blocking repairs even after the cables were damaged.
One senior Iranian official said Iran would place no limits on its response if the U.S. launched another attack. The official warned that undersea communications networks, as well as various military facilities, including secret military bases, could be targeted. The official also claimed that Iran had the ability to reach and destroy undersea cables.
The warning came as the U.S. and Israel considered additional military operations against Iran. The New York Times (NYT) previously reported that the two countries were preparing to attack Iran again after the U.S. midterm elections on the 3rd of next month. However, it remains unclear whether U.S. President Donald Trump will approve an actual attack.
Undersea cables are critical infrastructure connecting countries through internet communications. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), about 99% of global internet traffic passes through undersea cables. There are concerns that if Iran directly targets communications networks, damage could spread beyond military facilities to civilian communications infrastructure.
Some analysts, however, say a global internet shutdown is unlikely. Alan Mauldin, research director at telecommunications network research firm TeleGeography, said international communications bandwidth passing through the Strait of Hormuz accounts for less than 1% of the global total, and predicted that even if cables in the region were attacked, the impact on global communications networks would be limited.

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter