Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of Kayhan, wrote: “Is it not our undeniable right to prevent the operation of internet cables in order to bring these sources of evil to their knees and cut their lifeline?”
He acknowledged that such a move could violate international rules and harm other countries. However, he defended the proposal by arguing that US attacks against Iran are also illegal.
It is worth noting that in early May, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency also called for Iran to generate revenue from the undersea internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The agency portrayed the waterway not only as a strategically important route for energy and shipping, but also as a means of exerting digital pressure.
Undersea cables carry the vast majority of global internet and financial traffic. These cables, which connect Europe, Asia and the Arabian Gulf through an extensive underwater network, support a wide range of activities, from banking systems and cloud computing to intergovernmental communications and energy markets.