Tanker Ships Linked to Iran Observed Near Subsea Cables in Gulf of Oman

Several tanker ships linked to Iran have been observed hovering near subsea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman, just off the coast of the Strait of Hormuz. This unusual activity has raised concerns that the Iranian government may be preparing to attack undersea infrastructure in response to any future US and Israeli strikes.

The tracking data shows that three tankers with sanctions on them, along with an Iranian fishing boat, have been lingering near major subsea cables over the past month. These cables are critical for international communication, as they connect the Middle East to Europe, Africa, and Asia. At least six of these cables currently pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint that has significant implications for global connectivity. Four countries - Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar - rely entirely on subsea telecommunications connections running through this region to stay connected with the outside world. The region's undersea cable network also handles a substantial portion of international internet traffic.

One-third of India's westbound internet traffic passes through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the vulnerability of these critical infrastructure assets in the region.

The movement of Iranian-linked ships near subsea cables has raised concerns about potential attacks on these critical infrastructure assets. One such cable is the 2Africa cable, which is currently under construction and owned by a consortium that includes Meta, a US-based tech company.

Satellite images and ship-tracking data show that the vessels in question have been slowing down and looping around near multiple cables before sometimes switching off their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders. This behavior suggests that the ships may be engaged in activities such as mapping cable routes or placing charges or mines on them, although the exact intentions are unclear.

Windward, a maritime analytics firm, highlighted two examples of sanctioned tankers linked to Iran that spent days drifting over regional cable corridors without any apparent commercial reason for doing so. Both ships carried no cargo and were tracked by Windward in a blog post published on October 26.

The presence of these Iranian-linked ships near subsea cables has raised concerns about the vulnerability of these assets, particularly given the history of attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and other energy infrastructure in the region.

Iran's history of targeting US Big Tech infrastructure in the Middle East has been well-documented, with multiple drone strikes launched against Amazon data centers. This trend continued in May 2026, when a spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps made it clear that they would impose fees on Internet cables belonging to US tech companies and other owners.

The warning was not limited to economic threats; Iranian officials have also vowed to take more aggressive action against subsea cables running through the Strait of Hormuz. This came after President Donald Trump delivered a speech at the United Nations in New York, where he threatened major US military strikes on Iran and warned that he could "annihilate" the country.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been at the forefront of these warnings, with one spokesperson drawing attention to the seven major cables that run through the Strait of Hormuz. These cables support global Internet operations and commercial data transmission, making them a critical component of modern communication networks.

The latest phase of the conflict has seen limited US military strikes against Iranian targets, as Trump has alternated between threats and diplomatic overtures. Meanwhile, Iran has increased its use of drone strikes and other attacks on commercial ships to exert pressure on the United States.

October saw the highest number of ship attacks since the war began, highlighting the escalating tensions in the region. The presence of these attacks raises concerns about the vulnerability of subsea cables, particularly given their importance to global communication networks.

The damage caused by the ongoing conflict has already been significant, with a limited fleet of cable-laying ships unable to safely operate in the affected region since the war began. As a result, the Meta-backed 2Africa cable project has had to pause its planned expansion, highlighting the vulnerability of global communication networks.

Threats to subsea infrastructure are not limited to the Middle East, with concerns growing about sabotage and gray-zone warfare in various regions worldwide, including the Baltic Sea and the Pacific Ocean.