US-Iran war highlights vulnerability of Mideast undersea cables

TelecommunicationIran hints at damaging or monetizing data conduits in region with 30% of global trafficAround 500 undersea cables carry 99% of international data traffic. (NEC)TAKEHIKO HAMAJuly 18, 2026 01:30 JSTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- In its conflict with the U.S., Iran has hinted at threats to undersea data cables in the Persian Gulf, underscoring the risks faced by infrastructure that is critical to the global digital economy.