Vessels Loiter Near Undersea Cables in Gulf of Oman
Iranian-linked ships altered their course near critical communication lines as tensions with the United States and Israel rose.
By Oliver Bennett ·
Residents of Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar face a growing risk to their internet access. These four nations rely entirely on submarine cables running through the Strait of Oman for their global connectivity. Recent ship movements in that region have raised questions about whether that infrastructure is under threat.
Maritime intelligence firm Windward tracked at least four vessels near undersea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Oman. The group included three oil tankers subject to US sanctions and a small Iranian fishing boat. Windward noted that these ships followed standard routes until they reached specific cable corridors. Upon arrival, the vessels slowed down, circled, reversed direction, or stopped transmitting tracking signals.
Tracking records show the fishing vessel remained near the Europe India Gateway and Transworld cables between October 21 and 26. During that week, the boat lingered in the area for extended periods. The three tankers displayed similar irregular navigation patterns. Their movements differed from nearby commercial ships that were waiting to collect Gulf oil cargoes.
Windward told the Financial Times that the behavior was consistent with mapping cable routes or positioning explosives. The company assessed that the ships may have been laying mines while their tracking signals were absent. This assessment describes what the movements could indicate rather than confirming that either activity actually occurred.
The activity follows repeated Iranian warnings issued over the past month. Tehran stated that regional communications infrastructure could become a target if the United States and Israel renew military strikes. These warnings came as the US president indicated that military operations against Tehran could resume.
Telecommunications research company TeleGeography lists six cables already passing through the Strait of Oman. Three additional networks are currently under construction. The projects include Fibre in Gulf, Sea-Me-We 6, and 2Africa. Of the three new lines, 2Africa is nearest to completion.
Damage to the cables could cause major interruptions to internet services and economic activity in neighboring Gulf states. The consequences would be especially serious for countries that lack alternative submarine routes to maintain their international connectivity.
