Iranian Ships Hover Over Subsea Cables in Gulf of Oman, Renewing Fears for Digital Infrastructure
A series of vessels linked to Iran have been monitored drifting directly above submarine communication cables in the Gulf of Oman, reinforcing concerns that the Iranian regime may be preparing sabotage against regional digital infrastructure. The ships were tracked by maritime intelligence firm Windward, which identified irregular maneuvers including deceleration, circling, and intentional deactivation of automatic identification systems (AIS) — patterns analysts associate with submarine cable mapping or the positioning of explosive devices.
What was observed
According to maritime tracking data and satellite imagery analyzed by Windward, at least four vessels were observed executing unusual routes over submarine cable corridors traversing the Gulf of Oman between mid-October and early November 2026. Three of them are oil tankers subject to U.S. sanctions; the fourth is a small Iranian fishing vessel.
The tanker Celestial Sea, for instance, drifted for more than four hours directly above the 2Africa cable — which connects the United Arab Emirates and Oman to Africa and Europe — off the coast of Oman on October 14. The following day, the vessel could not be tracked for approximately 86 hours after turning off its AIS system, traveling between the 2Africa and Bay of Bengal Gateway cables, which link the UAE, Oman, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and India, before making a U-turn about 16.7 kilometers from the cable and anchoring off Shinas.
The small fishing vessel remained over the Europe India Gateway and Transworld cables between October 21 and 26, according to Windward. During that period, it also repeatedly disabled its signaling system, including for more than 33 consecutive hours on October 17.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz has long been known as a chokepoint for global oil transport. But, as experts warn, it is equally vital for worldwide digital infrastructure. Six subsea cable systems currently operate through the strait, with three additional projects under construction — 2Africa, Sea-Me-We 6, and Fiber in Gulf. According to TeleGeography data, the Gulf countries of Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar depend exclusively on these cables for their connectivity with the rest of the world.
Disruption of these cables would have implications far beyond the region. Masha Kotkin, former U.S. State Department official and researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), noted that cloud computing, data centers, and other digital activities in the Gulf depend directly on subsea fiber optic cables. "Any damage would result in slower internet and compromised financial transactions," Kotkin explained. "Additionally, it would disrupt communications networks, e-commerce, and cloud computing."
The effects would extend well beyond the Gulf. Roughly one-third of India's westbound traffic traverses this corridor, and disruption would affect data routes connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.
The threats
The maritime observations occurred in the context of significant military escalation. Iran has been vocal in its threats against cables and data centers along the Strait of Hormuz over the past months, in response to suggestions that the United States and Israel would launch new bombing campaigns. On October 19, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi declared: "Seven major undersea internet cables run through the Strait of Hormuz, carrying all commercial and internet data. We want the U.S. to realize that new targets and new weapons shall be unveiled."
Earlier, on October 12, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, explicitly threatened that "data centers and artificial intelligence facilities will be destroyed." Yadollah Javani, deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard for political affairs, said in late October that assets "including internet cables" would be damaged in retaliation for attacks on Iranian infrastructure.
The threats are not merely rhetoric. Since the onset of the conflict in February 2026, the Revolutionary Guard had already designated 18 American technology companies as legitimate targets. Strikes have already hit data center infrastructure in Iran and facilities in neighboring nations. Meta had already paused work on the Persian Gulf section of the 2Africa cable in March due to the conflict, affecting network redundancy planning for operators running AI workloads in Gulf facilities.
The military context
U.S. military presence in the region continues to expand. Satellite imagery recorded the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt moving toward the South China Sea toward Singapore in early November, potentially reinforcing two carrier strike groups already positioned in the Middle East. Tensions along the Gulf of Oman corridor have escalated dramatically since the conflict began in February, when Iran initiated a blockade of the strait.
The economic cost of these tensions is already visible. The average global rate for shipping a standard 40-foot container increased from $1,899 at the start of the conflict in February 2026 to $4,389 by November. Oil prices and trade routes have already been profoundly affected, and the additional potential for digital infrastructure damage could generate even more severe consequences.
What remains to be seen is whether the observed maritime activity will translate into actual action against the submarine cables or remain as yet another exercise in strategic deterrence. The response of the maritime insurance sector and naval powers allied with the U.S. along the Strait of Hormuz will be a crucial indicator in the coming days and weeks.
Sources
- Silicon Report, "Iran-linked tankers loiter over subsea cables near Strait of Hormuz", Nov 6, 2026 - Asharq al-Awsat, "Iran-Linked Ships Hover Over Subsea Cables in Gulf of Oman", Nov 2026 - Kantan.News, "Critical Infrastructure Alert in the Strait of Hormuz: Iran-Linked Vessels Loitering Over Subsea Internet Cables", Nov 7, 2026
Sources: Silicon Report, Asharq al-Awsat, Kantan.News
✓ Independent sources cross-checked and verified before publishing
