Iranian Media Proposes Charging Tech Firms for Undersea Cables in Strait of Hormuz

News agencies affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have proposed that Tehran impose fees on global technology firms operating undersea fiber-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz. This suggestion extends Iran's recent claims of sovereignty over the strategic waterway, where it has also sought to charge international shipping vessels. The proposal cites the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, arguing that cable installation without authorization constitutes occupation of Iranian seabed territory. However, legal experts dismiss these arguments, noting that UNCLOS explicitly protects the right to lay and maintain submarine cables. Analysts view the move less as a viable economic plan and more as a geopolitical threat or 'protection' fee attempt. If implemented or if sabotage occurs, severing these cables could severely disrupt internet connectivity, banking, and cloud services across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The situation remains tense amid ongoing conflict, with the strait effectively closed following military actions. Experts warn that while the legal basis is weak, the risk of adversarial cable cuts by state actors adds significant urgency to global digital infrastructure security concerns.