What Now: Iran Threatens Data War Next?

The ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran has resulted in considerable strain of energy resources due to the disruption of supply chain of oil and natural gas as the crucial waterway ‘Strait of Hormuz’ is being used as diplomatic tool by either sides. While Iran initially restricted ships from passing through the Strait, US later started blocking it making the situation even more worse. 

As full de-escalation between both sides still uncertain, the latest reports from Iranian media suggests that the next crisis might be not just from shortage of oil but due to data outage. A report by leading news agency has put the spotlight on the vulnerability of undersea data cables in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any disruption could hit connectivity across the region. 

The report claims that Strait of Hormuz is not just a critical sea artery for global energy supplies but also very vital for digital infrastructure as it preserves multiple major submarine cable systems which carry most of the internet traffic that powers banking, cloud services and communications across Gulf countries.

So, any damage to major cables whether through accidents or deliberate action could result in severe disruption of internet and banking services across the Persian Gulf and thereby having a ripple effect across the globe with many countries likely to face the consequences.

Communication of data plays a significant role in maintenance of various day-to-day services from businesses to personal needs. Even a minor disruption could throw everything into a limbo, causing more losses to various other sectors due to the ongoing war.

As of now, there is no direct confirmation from Iran over this development. But, any such strategy as part of facing the opponents in war cannot be ruled out given its importance and consequences.