Hawzah News Agency- Iran’s armed forces would answer any aggressor with force and resolve, Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, said separately.
“The enemy will face a response that makes it regret any reckless action against us,” he said, adding that the armed forces are more determined than ever to confront the enemy.
The Strait of Hormuz is completely closed, and Iran will not allow any US or Israeli vessel to enter, IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi said Tuesday. US warships are keeping 700 kilometers away from the strait, he added.
Mohebbi rejected US claims that oil is being shipped out through the waterway, telling Iranian television the assertions are “entirely false.” He noted that the “United States is smuggling oil through the strait at enormous cost.”
“The passage of a few small vessels smuggling oil through the Strait of Hormuz does not mean the strait is open,” he said.
The IRGC is capable of striking US warships and other naval vessels, Mohebbi stressed, adding that Iranian forces have already proven it.
The Strait of Hormuz is widely regarded as one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, but it also serves as a key digital corridor linking Asia, Europe, and West Asia through a complex web of undersea cables. Between 7 and 10 major fiber-optic cables reportedly run along the seabed of the Strait of Hormuz.
These cables are estimated to carry between 17% and 30% of regional internet traffic, forming a backbone for global communications, financial transactions, and cloud-based services. Major technology infrastructure in the Gulf, including data and AI hubs in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, supported by companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, relies heavily on this network.
The undersea cable network connects to landing stations in several countries near the Strait of Hormuz, including Oman, the UAE, and Pakistan.
India, one of the world’s largest digital markets, is particularly exposed due to its reliance on these connections for internet services, cloud computing, and digital payments. A disruption could result in slower connectivity, service instability, and economic impacts on its IT and technology sectors.
Separately, Alcatel Submarine Networks, a French state-owned company involved in laying subsea cables, has previously issued force majeure notices to clients, citing unforeseen disruptions affecting operations.
Source: Al Mayadeen
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