Vessels Navigate Near Subsea Cables Following Iran’s Warnings to Trump

Recent surveillance has detected several tanker vessels associated with Iran hovering over crucial subsea Internet cables in the Gulf of Oman, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz. This activity raises concerns that the Iranian authorities may be contemplating an attack on undersea infrastructure in response to a potential escalation of military actions by the United States and Israel.

According to maritime intelligence firm Windward, three sanctioned tankers along with an Iranian fishing boat were tracked circling significant undersea cables throughout October. As reported by the Financial Times, six active cables currently run through the contested Strait of Hormuz, facilitating connections between the Middle East and regions such as Europe, Africa, and Asia. Additionally, two more cables are in the process of being constructed in the area.

Countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar wholly depend on these undersea telecommunications links to maintain connections with the global community. Beyond these nations, the region’s cable network is essential for many others; notably, one-third of India‘s westbound Internet traffic transits through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

One notable project under construction, the 2Africa cable—spearheaded by a consortium that includes Meta, formerly known as Facebook—was among the critical cable corridors frequented by these Iranian-linked vessels.

Using a combination of ship-tracking technology and satellite imagery, Windward observed the vessels’ unusual behavior as they slowed and circled near multiple cables, with some subsequently “going dark” by disabling their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders which typically relay their location information.

This peculiar movement pattern suggests that the Iranian-affiliated ships might be engaged in “mapping cable routes or potentially placing explosives or mines on them while dark,” as stated by Windward in a blog post dated October 26. Moreover, it was noted that two sanctioned tankers drifted for days directly over regional cable pathways without any apparent commercial justification; both vessels were carrying no cargo.