Iran's Revolutionary Guard Cites Seven Undersea Cables Under the Strait of Hormuz, Says 'New Targets' Will Be Unveiled
The Oct. 19 remarks by an IRGC spokesman came eight days after security official Mohsen Rezaei warned on Oct. 11 that cables, data centers and AI sites could be hit if war resumes, and a day after President Trump said the U.S. and its allies would "soon finish the job"; cable analysts say the strait carries under 1% of world internet bandwidth.
Seven cables, or three?
On Monday, Oct. 19, an Iranian military spokesman named a number. Hossein Mohebbi speaks for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He said seven major internet cables run under the Strait of Hormuz. He added that "all the world's internet and commercial data depend on them"[1][2].
Then he made a promise. "We just want them to know that new targets will be unveiled. New weapons will be unveiled," he said[1]. He spoke at an event hosted by a publishing house. He also warned that any new U.S. military action, even a limited one, would cause a "severe energy crisis"[2].
The count is already in question. Data from the research firm TeleGeography, as cited in the reports, show three active cable systems crossing the strait. They are AAE-1, FALCON and GBI[11][5]. The IRGC didn't name its seven. They may include other routes.
The bigger gap is in the claim about the world's internet. TeleGeography puts the share of global international bandwidth on those cables at under 1% as of 2025[5][11]. Both numbers are on the record. They don't fit together easily.
A threat with no decision attached
Listen closely to what Mohebbi said. He did not say outright that Iran had decided to attack the cables[1]. As of Oct. 20, no new attack on or damage to any Hormuz cable has been confirmed[5].
So this is a warning, not an event. That matters for how to read it. Naming targets costs nothing. It can still change what an opponent expects.
It also wasn't the first such warning. On Sunday, Oct. 11, Mohsen Rezaei of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said something similar. If war breaks out again, he said, "many cables, data centers and artificial intelligence facilities, valued at $2 trillion, will be within range"[3][4]. Outlets differ on his title. Some call him the council's "secretary," others its "head"[1][10]. He didn't explain how he got to $2 trillion[3].
Iran has used this kind of list before. The war began in February 2026[4]. In March, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported an IRGC list of "new targets." It included cloud infrastructure run by Google, Microsoft and Oracle in Israel and some Gulf states[4].
Who spoke first
Iranian officials describe their remarks as a reply. The record backs the timing. On Oct. 18, a day before Mohebbi spoke, Trump endorsed Netanyahu ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 election. He wrote that the U.S. and its allies would "soon finish the job" if Iran did not change course[6].
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, answered that the U.S. could "try your luck again"[19]. He has also said Iran "emerged even stronger" from the last round of fighting[19]. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had threatened Iran's energy infrastructure. He said strikes there could set Iran back "decades"[7].
Netanyahu said on Oct. 18 that Israel could strike first, even without U.S. help[8]. Four days earlier, he had said he wasn't seeking a strike before the vote[9]. On Oct. 19, the State Department issued a Middle East security alert as talk of strikes grew[18].
Each side sees its own threat as defense and the other's as aggression. Trump and Katz threaten Iran's energy sector and government. Iran threatens cables and data centers[6][7][1]. This is deterrence: threatening costs so the other side won't attack in the first place.
The case from Tehran, and the case against it
Start with Iran's argument at full strength. A country that can't match U.S. air power can still make an attack costly. It does that by threatening things its enemy values. If U.S.-linked data centers and Gulf cables are at risk, Washington and its partners have a reason to hold back[1][12].
Iranian officials add another point. They say U.S. tech firms with Pentagon ties are not purely civilian. Parliament's speaker has floated a "Persian Gulf Data Authority" to pressure AI companies over those ties[23]. Iran also wants to keep its hold over Hormuz as a bargaining chip.
U.S. and Israeli officials make the mirror argument. They say Iran keeps global shipping, and now global data, under threat. In their view, the threat of force is what stops it[6][7]. Netanyahu says the only way to end the danger is to "get rid of this regime." He argues that waiting lets Iran rebuild[8]. Both countries also face voters. Israel votes Oct. 27 and the U.S. on Nov. 3. Leaders want to look tough without setting off an oil or market shock[9][18].
Cable analysts push back on the scale, not the substance. Backup routes mean a cut in one spot rarely takes the world offline. Traffic shifts to other cables[5][11]. But the Gulf has fewer backups. A cut would hit the region much harder than the rest of the world[21][4].
Repairs are the other problem. They need specialized cable ships. The fleet is small and aging, so a break could take weeks to fix[16]. A researcher at the UAE-based Habtoor Research Center said the IRGC can pose a "significant risk" to the cables[11]. Two of the three systems cross Iranian territorial waters, according to the reports[11].
The Gulf is in the middle
The countries with the most to lose aren't in the argument. Gulf governments have tied their post-oil plans to data centers and AI hubs. Examples include Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE projects with firms like G42[20][4]. They need the cables safe and the foreign tech firms staying put.
So their focus is defense and calm. Qatar was preparing to announce a regional defense agreement on Oct. 19[10]. The threat could push Gulf states closer to U.S. defense deals. It could also cut off neighbors Iran trades with if it were carried out[10].
There's a wider map, too. By one estimate, more than 90% of Europe-Asia data capacity runs under the Red Sea. The Houthis now hold more coastline there[4]. Data centers are physical buildings, and many in the Gulf sit within reach of Iran's missiles[4].
Same threat, different headlines
Outlets framed the story to fit their audiences. Fox News folded the cable remarks into a live blog. It said Rezaei's threat applies "if the U.S. and Israel resume strikes." That treats the U.S.-Israeli side as the one reacting[10]. Fortune kept the same "if the war escalates" condition in its headline and focused on AI-investment exposure[3].
Benzinga's headline repeated Iran's "all of the World's Internet" line without qualification. It ran under a prediction-markets section[11]. Press TV treated the $2 trillion figure as fact and cast the U.S. as the likely attacker[12]. RT wrote that Iran "will destroy" U.S. data centers, which is stronger than Rezaei's "within range." The facilities it described are in Gulf states[13].
Al Jazeera asked how exposed the Gulf's own internet is. It gave less room to the U.S. strike threats that came first[4]. IBTimes UK put "World's Internet" in quotation marks. It highlighted an apparently AI-generated missile image the spokesman shared. It also carried the under-1% bandwidth context[5].
Some limits apply. Mohebbi's full statement couldn't be obtained. His words come through wire services and IranWire's account of the event[1][2]. Next to watch: whether Iran names its seven cables, and whether anyone acts before Oct. 27.
Summary
On Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, Hossein Mohebbi, spokesman for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said seven major internet cables run under the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed "all the world's internet and commercial data depend on them"[1][2]. "We just want them to know that new targets will be unveiled. New weapons will be unveiled," he said[1]. He did not say outright that Iran had decided to attack the cables[1]. No new damage to any cable has been confirmed[5].
His remarks built on an earlier warning. On Sunday, Oct. 11, Mohsen Rezaei, a senior official on Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said that if war breaks out again, "many cables, data centers and artificial intelligence facilities, valued at $2 trillion, will be within range"[3][4]. Both warnings came after U.S. and Israeli leaders talked openly about more strikes. On Oct. 18, Trump wrote that the U.S. and its allies would "soon finish the job" if Iran did not change course[6]. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened Iran's energy infrastructure[7]. Netanyahu said on Oct. 18 that Israel could strike first without U.S. help[8]. Four days earlier, though, he had said he was not seeking a strike before Israel's Oct. 27 election[9].
The main dispute is over how much weight the threat carries. Iranian officials present it as deterrence: a warning that a new attack on Iran would cost the U.S. and its Gulf partners dearly[1][12]. U.S. and Israeli officials treat Iran as the aggressor in the region[6][7]. Cable analysts say Iran's claim is overstated globally. Data from the research firm TeleGeography, as cited in the reports, put the strait's share of world international bandwidth at under 1%[5][11]. But the same analysts say an attack could still badly disrupt Gulf countries, and repairs could take a long time[16][4].
The Event
On Oct. 19, 2026, IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi spoke at an event hosted by a publishing house. He said seven major cables pass under the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran would unveil "new targets" and "new weapons"[2][1]. He added that any new U.S. military action, even a limited one, would cause a "severe energy crisis"[2]. His remarks followed an Oct. 11 warning by Mohsen Rezaei that cables, data centers and AI facilities in the region could come "within range" if war resumes[3].
Undisputed Facts
- IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said on Oct. 19, 2026, that seven major cables run beneath the Strait of Hormuz and that "new targets will be unveiled"[1][2].
- Mohebbi did not explicitly say Iran had decided to attack the cables[1].
- Mohsen Rezaei of Iran's Supreme National Security Council warned on Oct. 11 that "cables, data centers and artificial intelligence facilities, valued at $2 trillion" could be "within range" if war breaks out again[3][4]. Outlets differ on his title: some call him the council's "secretary," others its "head"[1][10].
- As of Oct. 20, no new attack on or damage to any Hormuz internet cable has been confirmed[5].
- On Oct. 18, Trump endorsed Netanyahu ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 election and wrote that the U.S. and its allies would "soon finish the job" if Iran did not change course[6]. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi replied that the U.S. could "try your luck again"[19].
- The war began in February 2026[4]. In March, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported an IRGC list of "new targets" that included cloud infrastructure of Google, Microsoft and Oracle in Israel and some Gulf states[4].
- TeleGeography data, as cited in the reports, put the share of global international bandwidth carried by cables crossing the strait at under 1% as of 2025[5][11].
The Pressure
Strip away the moralizing and blame. What structural realities persist regardless of which narrative wins?
- Deterrence on both sides
- Deterrence means threatening costs to stop an attack before it starts. Each side is using it: Trump and Katz threaten Iran's energy sector and government, and Iran threatens cables and data centers[6][7][1]. Each side sees its own threat as defense and the other's as aggression.
- Gulf AI build-out
- Gulf states have tied their post-oil economic plans to data centers and AI. That makes this infrastructure valuable leverage for Iran[20][4].
- Election calendars
- Israel votes Oct. 27 and the U.S. votes Nov. 3. Leaders in both countries face pressure to look tough without setting off an oil or market shock[9][18].
Material realityUndersea cables are fiber-optic lines laid on the seabed. Together they carry nearly all data between continents. When one is cut, traffic shifts to other cables. That backup is why a cut in one spot rarely takes the world offline. TeleGeography data, as cited in the reports, show three active systems crossing Hormuz (AAE-1, FALCON and GBI), carrying under 1% of global international bandwidth[11][5]. The IRGC's count of seven may include other routes, but it did not name the cables. The Gulf has fewer backup routes than the rest of the world, so a local cut would hurt Gulf countries more. Repairs need specialized cable ships. There are few of them, and the fleet is aging, so a cut could take weeks to fix[16]. A far larger share of Europe-Asia data, more than 90% of capacity by one estimate, runs under the Red Sea, where the Houthis now hold more coastline[4]. Data centers are physical buildings, and many in the Gulf sit within reach of Iran's missiles[4].
Narrative as a weaponIran's IRGC and state media are working to make the threat sound global, with lines like 'all the world's internet' and a $2 trillion price tag. The goal is to make a new attack look too costly[1][12]. Russian state media amplify and harden the wording[13][14]. Trump and Netanyahu frame their own strike threats as the cure for Iranian aggression, and the election calendars give both a reason to look strong[6][8]. Gulf-aligned outlets frame the story around their own exposure and the case for regional defense pacts[20][10]. Business and markets outlets turn the threat into a risk-pricing story[11][3]. Cable analysts and outlets like IBTimes and IranWire push back on the size of the claim. Their aim is to show the threat as smaller globally than Iran says, but not empty[5][2].
How Each Side Sees It
Each major actor’s view — how it frames things, its underlying incentive, and how it’s materially affected. Tap a side to read it.
Frames it asIran says it is the side under threat. It points out that Trump, Katz and Netanyahu all spoke of new strikes before Mohebbi spoke[6][7][8]. Its case rests on deterrence. A country that cannot match U.S. air power can still make an attack costly by threatening things its enemy values. If U.S.-linked data centers and Gulf cables are at risk, Washington and its Gulf partners have a reason to hold back. Iranian officials also argue that U.S. tech firms with Pentagon ties are not purely civilian. Parliament's speaker has floated a 'Persian Gulf Data Authority' to put pressure on AI companies over their U.S. military ties[23]. Araghchi says Iran "emerged even stronger" from the last round of fighting[19].
WhyIran wants to prevent a second round of strikes on its territory, and to keep its hold over Hormuz as a bargaining chip. Naming new targets raises the price of an attack without Iran firing a shot[1][12].
Impact on themThe threat could deepen Iran's isolation and push Gulf states closer to U.S. defense deals[10]. Two of the three cable systems that TeleGeography counts cross Iranian territorial waters, according to the reports[11]. A deliberate attack could also cut off Gulf neighbors Iran trades with.
Frames it asThe administration's case is that Iran keeps holding global shipping and now global data hostage. Its argument is that the threat of force is what stops this. Trump's message, "soon finish the job" if Iran does not change course, uses the same deterrence logic Iran does, aimed the other way[6]. On Oct. 19 the State Department issued a Middle East security alert as talk of strikes grew[18].
WhyThe administration wants to force Iran to reopen Hormuz and accept limits on its programs, while protecting U.S. companies and Gulf allies. Early voting in the Nov. 3 U.S. midterms has begun, which raises the political cost of oil and market shocks[18].
Impact on themThe U.S. has large exposure. Rezaei claims the cables, data centers and AI facilities within range are worth $2 trillion[3]. He did not explain how he arrived at that figure. U.S. cloud firms run large operations in the Gulf, and some were named on Iran's March target list[4].
Frames it asIsraeli leaders argue that Iran's government itself is the threat. Netanyahu says the only way to end it is to "get rid of this regime"[8]. They argue that waiting lets Iran rebuild, so a pre-emptive strike may be needed, even without the U.S.[8]. Katz says strikes on Iran's energy sector could set it back "decades"[7].
WhyIsrael wants to keep Iran from rebuilding its military power. The Oct. 27 election also matters: Netanyahu said on Oct. 14 he was not seeking a strike before the vote, but he took a harder line four days later[9][8].
Impact on themIsrael is directly in range of Iranian retaliation. In March, Iran named cloud sites in Israel as possible targets[4].
Frames it asGulf governments are caught in the middle. They have bet their economic future on data centers and AI hubs, under plans like Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE projects with firms like G42[20][4]. They need the cables to stay safe. Their focus is defense and calm, not escalation. Qatar was preparing to announce a regional defense agreement on Oct. 19[10].
WhyGulf states want to protect their investments and keep foreign tech firms from pulling out. They want to avoid being the battleground in a U.S.-Iran fight[20].
Impact on themGulf states bear the most direct risk. Analysts say a cable cut would hit the region much harder than the rest of the world, because Gulf countries have fewer backup routes[21][4].
Frames it asAnalysts separate the global claim from the regional risk. The global claim, as cited from TeleGeography, is overstated: under 1% of world bandwidth crosses the strait, and traffic can be rerouted[5][11]. The regional risk is real. A researcher at the UAE-based Habtoor Research Center said the IRGC can pose a "significant risk" to the cables[11]. Repairs depend on an aging, small fleet of specialized ships[16].
WhyAnalysts want to correct overstated claims on both sides, so that markets and governments neither panic nor dismiss the risk[16].
Impact on themTheir assessments shape insurance costs, investment decisions and how much weight the news media gives Iran's threats[16][11].
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The Bias Ledger average rating 5.1
The same story, as framed by outlets across the spectrum, ordered least to most biased. The bias score (1 = straight, 10 = heavily spun) is an AI assessment of that framing — click an outlet to see its track record. The tell is the word choice or omission that reveals the angle.
| Outlet | Vantage | Bias | How they frame it | The tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortune | U.S. center / business | 3 | Senior Iranian official threatens to attack cables, data centers, and AI facilities in the region if the war escalates sharply again | The headline keeps the 'if the war escalates' condition. The emphasis is on market and AI-investment exposure. |
| Al Jazeera | Qatari state-funded | 3 | Iran threatens Gulf data centres: How exposed is the region's internet? | Frames the story around Gulf vulnerability, including the Houthi-held Red Sea coast. It plays down the U.S. strike threats that came before Iran's warning. |
| International Business Times UK | UK commercial, digital | 4 | Iran Threatens 'World's Internet' as Revolutionary Guards Spokesman Shares Apparent AI-Generated Missile Image | Puts 'World's Internet' in scare quotes and highlights the fake-looking image, which casts doubt on the threat. It also carries the 'under 1%' bandwidth context. |
| Fox News | U.S. right | 5 | Iran issues warning to US as Qatar prepares to announce regional defense agreement | Leads with the Iranian 'warning.' In the cable item it says Rezaei's threat applies if the U.S. and Israel 'resume strikes,' a framing that treats the U.S.-Israeli side as reacting. Trump's 'finish the job' post appears in separate items. |
| Benzinga | U.S. financial / markets | 6 | Iran Escalates Threat to Target Undersea Cables in Hormuz Strait: 'All of the World's Internet and Commercial Data Depend on Them' | The headline repeats Iran's 'all of the world's internet' line without qualification. The story sits under a prediction-markets section, which frames it as a betting event. |
| RT | Russian state | 7 | Iran will destroy US data centers and AI facilities if attacked again | 'Will destroy' is stronger than Rezaei's 'within range.' The threat is aimed at 'US' assets, though the facilities are in Gulf states. |
| Press TV | Iranian state | 8 | Inside America's $2 trillion digital footprint in West Asia: What could happen if Iran is attacked again | Treats Rezaei's unexplained $2 trillion figure as fact. Casts the U.S. as the likely attacker and Iran as the side responding. |
References
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard cites 7 internet cables under Strait of Hormuz, warns of 'new targets' — The Express Tribune · Pakistani English daily, center; republishing wire copy (Anadolu-style report)
- IRGC Threatens Undersea Internet Cables in Strait of Hormuz — IranWire · Iranian diaspora outlet, critical of the Islamic Republic
- Senior Iranian official threatens to attack cables, data centers, and AI facilities in the region if the war escalates sharply again — Fortune · U.S. business magazine, center
- Iran threatens Gulf data centres: How exposed is the region's internet? — Al Jazeera · Qatari state-funded
- Iran Threatens 'World's Internet' as Revolutionary Guards Spokesman Shares Apparent AI-Generated Missile Image — International Business Times UK · UK commercial digital outlet
- Trump Endorses Netanyahu, Ties 'Finishing the Job' on Iran to Israel's Vote — HNGN · U.S. digital news aggregator
- Katz threatens strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure — JNS · Pro-Israel, right-leaning news service
- Netanyahu: Israel prepared to launch preemptive strike on Iran without US support — Israel Hayom · Israeli right-leaning daily, historically pro-Netanyahu
- Netanyahu Says He Is Not Seeking to Attack Iran Again Before Israel Election — Reuters · International wire service, center
- Iran issues warning to US as Qatar prepares to announce regional defense agreement — Fox News · U.S. right
- Iran Escalates Threat to Target Undersea Cables in Hormuz Strait — Benzinga · U.S. financial news, markets-oriented
- Inside America's $2 trillion digital footprint in West Asia: What could happen if Iran is attacked again — Press TV · Iranian state broadcaster
- Iran will destroy US data centers and AI facilities if attacked again — RT · Russian state broadcaster
- IRGC warns undersea internet cables in Strait of Hormuz could become Iran's targets — TASS · Russian state news agency
- 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis — Wikipedia · Crowd-edited reference; secondary
- Iran threats expose the aging fleet that repairs undersea Internet cables — Scientific American · U.S. science magazine, center
- Iran eyes a new source of power deep beneath the Strait of Hormuz — CNN · U.S. center-left
- US issues Middle East security alert amid Iran strike speculation as early voting in Mid-terms begins — ANI · Indian news agency, generally aligned with New Delhi's official line
- After Trump threat, Araghchi warns Iran has unfinished business — JNS · Pro-Israel, right-leaning news service
- Iran Threatens Hormuz Cables That Vision 2030 Depends On — House of Saud · Saudi-focused commentary site, sympathetic to Riyadh
- Iran war: Will your internet slow soon? Hormuz tensions raise undersea cable risks — Gulf News · UAE daily, aligned with Emirati government
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard Warns of New Targets, Points to Internet Cables Under Hormuz — The Media Line · U.S.-based nonprofit Middle East news agency
- Iran's Parliament Speaker Floats 'Persian Gulf Data Authority' to Squeeze AI Giants Over US Military Ties — Benzinga · U.S. financial news, markets-oriented