Iranian General Highlights Hormuz Cables in Warning on New Targets

On Oct. 19, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi pointed to undersea cables crossing the Strait of Hormuz while warning of new targets, putting regional communications infrastructure in focus amid US-Iran tensions.

Mohebbi claimed seven major cables pass beneath the strait and said new targets and weapons would be unveiled. He did not name a cable as a target or give a timetable for any action. His remarks did not announce a cable strike or outage, and he did not mention Bitcoin (BTC).

Five active submarine cable segments cross the strait, a route that accounts for less than 1% of international bandwidth worldwide. The difference between five active segments and Mohebbi’s count of seven is not explained. The main connectivity risk is regional: Gulf countries have alternative land and cable routes, but they may not have enough capacity to carry all displaced traffic.

Hormuz is also a major oil shipping corridor. Flows averaged 21.6 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 4.9 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026.