Iranian officials, including Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, issued public warnings in mid-October 2026 that undersea fiber-optic cables, data centers, and AI facilities in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz could become targets if full-scale conflict with the United States resumes. Hardline voices linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps echoed the statements, framing potential action as leverage amid tensions over maritime routes and regional influence. These remarks followed Houthi territorial gains near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and ongoing diplomatic friction, though no confirmed sabotage has occurred. Multiple cables already traverse the narrow chokepoint, carrying substantial Europe-Asia traffic, and traders assign low near-term probability to actual damage given the risks of self-harm to Iranian connectivity and the absence of immediate escalation triggers before key resolution windows.