Undersea internet cables in the Gulf face potential risks amid Iran's warning of retaliation against renewed US-Israeli attacks (Img: X)
Washington: US President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of fresh military action against Iran as tensions continue to escalate. The warning comes as reports suggest Tehran may target vital undersea internet cables across the Gulf if the US and Israel launch further strikes.
Trump's remarks come as rising fuel prices and uncertainty surrounding the conflict create economic and political concerns ahead of the US midterm elections. Earlier on Friday, he said Washington had the capability to end the war swiftly but was considering whether to bring it to a close or allow it to gradually subside.
Reports have also indicated that US and Israeli forces have prepared contingency plans for fresh strikes after the midterm elections, potentially targeting Iran's energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and missile capabilities.
Foreign ministers from several countries, including France, Germany, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have warned that renewed military action could widen the conflict and drive up global energy prices.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed that diplomacy remained the only viable path to preventing further regional instability. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot similarly warned that an escalation could have serious consequences for hydrocarbon markets.
According to the reports , Iranian security officials have prepared plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if Washington and Tel Aviv launch another offensive. Tehran has also warned that repairs could be obstructed, potentially extending internet disruptions.
Undersea cables carry the vast majority of international internet traffic. Although routes through the Strait of Hormuz account for a relatively small share of global bandwidth, multiple cable cuts could affect financial transactions, cloud services and e-commerce.
The threats raise concerns for Gulf states investing heavily in artificial intelligence, data centres and digital connectivity. Previous Iranian strikes reportedly damaged Amazon Web Services facilities in the UAE and nearby infrastructure in Bahrain.
Any prolonged disruption could undermine regional technology ambitions, increase repair costs and test the resilience of global communications networks.
