Tankers on submarine cables in Hormuz

Iranian-linked tankers are waiting on submarine cables in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz. This move may indicate that the Iranian government may target this infrastructure in response to possible new US and Israeli attacks. However, it should be noted that this is only a possibility for now.

Additionally, the issue came to the fore as Iran's warnings against Trump continued. For this reason, the ships' routes are closely monitored. Because if the cables are damaged, the effect can spread to a wide area.

How were the tankers' movements monitored?

Maritime intelligence firm Windward monitored the movements of three sanctioned tankers and an Iranian fishing boat in October. These vehicles were spotted near major cables, according to the Financial Times. Thus, the location of the ships became the center of the discussion about a possible threat.

So the ships may not be sailing randomly. However, it is not clear what the intention is. Because all you have is location data and a probability. Therefore, it would not be correct to read the claims as definitive information.

Submarine cables passing through Hormuz

Six active cables currently pass through the disputed Strait of Hormuz. These lines connect the Middle East to Europe, Africa and Asia. In addition, there are two more cables in the region, some parts of which are under construction.

Number of active cables: 6

Cable with sections under construction: 2

Disconnected regions: Europe, Africa, Asia

On the other hand, these figures show how intensively the Bosphorus is used for internet traffic. Moreover, these submarine cables pass through the same waterway. Therefore, every movement in the region closely concerns the infrastructure.

Which countries are at risk?

Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar depend entirely on the submarine communication lines passing through this strait for their connection with the outside world. Therefore, a possible attack could cause serious disruptions in these four countries. For this reason, ship movements in the region are of special importance.

The impact may not be limited to the Gulf. For example, one-third of India's westbound internet traffic flows through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, any possible damage can be felt in faraway countries.

There is no concrete attack information for now. But Windward's monitoring continues to make ships' movements on submarine cables visible.