Several tanker ships and an Iranian fishing vessel linked to Iran loitered over vital subsea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman during October, prompting maritime intelligence warnings that Tehran may be surveying digital infrastructure for potential sabotage as regional tensions escalate.
As regional observers monitor the maritime maneuvers, President Donald Trump addressed the situation following threats from Iran regarding digital infrastructure. We are doing very well with Iran.
We are talking to Iran, President Donald Trump told reporters, according to coverage cited by the Vision Times.
🇺🇸🇮🇷 Iran-linked ships have been spotted making suspicious movements directly above critical underwater internet cables in the Gulf of Oman. At least four vessels, including three U. S.-sanctioned tankers, have reportedly slowed down, circled cable routes and switched off their… pic.twitter.com/VhDy559RBi
Six active communication cables cross the contested Strait of Hormuz, linking the Middle East to Europe, Africa, and Asia, with countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar relying entirely on these subsea paths for international internet connectivity. The unusual vessel movements tracked by Windward followed direct threats from Iranian officials that regional telecommunications networks, data centers, and military facilities could become targets if the United States and Israel launch renewed strikes.
Tankers Loiter Over Cable Corridors
Maritime intelligence analysts identified three U.S.-sanctioned tankers and an Iranian fishing boat repeatedly slowing down, circling, and disabling their automated identification system (AIS) transponders near critical subsea cable routes throughout October, according to the Financial Times. Between October 21 and 26, the Iranian fishing vessel lingered over the Europe India Gateway and Transworld submarine cables.
🇮🇷 Three sanctioned Iran-linked tankers and an Iranian fishing-support vessel made unusual manoeuvres near Gulf of Oman internet cables, Windward reports. Celestial Sea (IMO 9397030), sailing empty, looped near 2Africa before an 86-hour AIS blackout, reappearing just nine… pic.twitter.com/Jmoy6BxB0n
A trio of tankers reduced their speed or altered their trajectories in the vicinity of the Falcon and 2Africa networks, which link Gulf states to telecommunications grids spanning Europe, Africa, and Asia. Both ships carried no commercial cargo, and maritime intelligence firm Windward identified unusual activity around several major telecommunications networks using satellite imagery and vessel-tracking data.
Windward noted that the vessels traveled without commercial cargo and maintained normal behaviors only until reaching specific cable paths. The analytics firm reported that the pattern fits the profile of mapping the cable routes, or placing charges or mines on them while dark.
Tehran Issues Digital Infrastructure Warnings
The suspicious maritime activity coincides with explicit warnings from senior security officials in Tehran. If Iran is attacked, there will be no more red lines … from undersea cables to military bases, including covert ones,
one official warned.
Hossein Mohebbi, spokesperson for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, emphasized Tehran’s posture regarding regional chokepoints. Seven major undersea Internet cables run through the Strait of Hormuz, carrying all commercial and Internet data. We just want [the US] to realize that new targets and new weapons shall be unveiled. And ultimately, we shall sweep the remnants of US power out of the region,
Mohebbi stated on October 19.
Undersea communication cables in the Gulf of Oman drew abnormal activity from at least four Iran-linked vessels in recent weeks, according to the Financial Times. Three U. S.-sanctioned tankers and a fourth Iranian ship slowed, altered course and lingered over the cable routes for…
Naval warfare specialist Sidharth Kaushal of the Royal United Services Institute suggested that while the movements might be coincidental, Iran might be trying to demonstrate its capacity to damage undersea infrastructure if there is a war.
Former Royal Navy Rear Adm. Jon Pentreath additionally pointed out that merchant ships could theoretically be adapted to lay naval mines, even though such tasks typically necessitate specialized gear.
United States Reinforces Regional Posture
Satellite imagery tracked the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt traveling toward Singapore from the South China Sea, supplementing naval carrier assets already positioned near the Middle East to manage ongoing hostilities.
BREAKING: 4 Iran-linked ships have been spotted making unusual movements directly above critical undersea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman – FT The movements come after Iran threatened to target undersea cables and data centres if the US and Israel launch fresh attacks on… pic.twitter.com/x0lzzW9cGM