Iran has plans to target Gulf undersea cables if strikes resume, officials say
publishers 12articles 12first reported 23 Oct, 17:38 UTCdeveloping since 23 Oct · 8 editions
Iran has drawn up plans to attack undersea communications cables in the Persian Gulf if the United States and Israel renew strikes against the country, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, gave few details about how or where any attack would be carried out. One said Tehran would also seek to prevent repairs to damaged cables, prolonging disruption to internet connections and other communications.
“If Iran is attacked, there will be no more red lines ... from undersea cables to military bases, including covert ones,” one official said. The official warned Washington against “playing with fire” and claimed Iran had full access to the cables and could easily destroy them.
The scale of any communications disruption would depend on the location and extent of the damage. Undersea cables carry large volumes of internet and telecommunications traffic between countries and regions.
The reported plans come amid heightened tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has warned that renewed military action against it would prompt a broader response.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
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- Source articles
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- This version written
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- Second model (editor)
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WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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