Iran wants to charge big tech for using Strait of Hormuz undersea cables. What to know
Vessels are seen anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, off the port city of Khasab on Oman’s northern Musandam Peninsula (AFP/Getty)
Iran has threatened to impose tariffs or “protection fees” on subsea cables in the Strait of Hormuz, which are vital for the region’s digital economy and global internet traffic.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) demanded these fees from foreign cable operators for permits to maintain seabed infrastructure, implying potential disruption if payments are not made.
This action targets major global technology firms such as Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Amazon, raising concerns about critical infrastructure, although US sanctions complicate any potential compliance.
Experts suggest Iran’s primary objective is to hold repair infrastructure hostage, compelling operators to pay fees or face indefinite delays in repairing faults, thereby seeking leverage against future attacks.
While some analysts argue that less than one per cent of international bandwidth traverses the Strait, the threat could still cause significant regional economic disruption and follows previous cable incidents in the Red Sea.
