Iran-linked ships suspected of mapping, placing mines around undersea telecommunications cables

Iranian-linked vessels have been observed making suspicious movements near undersea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Oman, according to a Financial Times report citing Israeli maritime intelligence firm Windward. The company tracked four ships, including three sanctioned oil tankers and an Iranian fishing boat, which lingered near cable corridors between October 21 and 26. Windward assessed the behavior fits mapping or mine-laying profiles.

Iranian-linked vessels have been observed making suspicious movements near undersea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Oman, according to a Financial Times report, following Tehran's warnings that it could target regional communications infrastructure if the United States and Israel renew military strikes against Iran. Israeli maritime intelligence company Windward tracked at least four ships traveling along unusual routes near submarine cable networks, including three oil tankers under US sanctions and a small Iranian fishing vessel. Tracking records showed the fishing boat lingered near the Europe India Gateway and Transworld cables between October 21 and 26. Windward told the Financial Times that the vessels traveled normally until they reached a specific cable corridor, and only then slowed, looped, turned back, loitered, or went dark. The company assessed that the behavior fits the profile of mapping the cable routes, or placing charges or mines on them while dark. The findings come after Iran repeatedly threatened over the past month to attack submarine cables and data centers in the Strait of Hormuz if Washington and Israel launch another military offensive. Telecommunications infrastructure beneath the Strait of Hormuz provides essential internet connections to several countries in the Persian Gulf, including Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, which depend entirely on cables passing through the waterway for their connectivity.