Iranian-linked ships loiter near subsea internet cables in Gulf of Oman

Suspicious Maritime Activity Detected

In October, the maritime intelligence firm Windward observed several tanker ships linked to Iran loitering over subsea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz. This activity involved three sanctioned tankers and an Iranian fishing boat. The Financial Times reported on these findings, noting the unusual behavior of these vessels.

Potential Threat to Critical Infrastructure

Windward utilized ship-tracking data and satellite images to monitor the vessels. The ships were seen slowing down and looping near multiple cable routes. Some vessels subsequently "went dark" by deactivating their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders, which broadcast their location. Windward suggested these patterns could indicate the ships were mapping cable routes or potentially placing charges or mines while unidentifiable.

Importance of Regional Subsea Cables

Six active subsea cables traverse the Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Middle East with Europe, Africa, and Asia, with two more under construction. Countries like Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar rely entirely on these connections for international telecommunications. Additionally, one-third of India's westbound internet traffic passes through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the regional and global significance of this infrastructure. One of the cables visited by the Iranian-linked ships, the 2Africa cable, is partly owned by a tech consortium including Meta.