Iranian officials, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesmen and senior security figures, issued explicit threats in October 2026 to target multiple undersea communications cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for any renewed U.S. or Israeli strikes. These statements referenced detailed operational plans, potential interference with repairs to extend outages, and related targets such as data centers and AI facilities, framed within ongoing regional tensions and a reported lull in an extended conflict. No physical damage to cables has occurred, and analysts note that the strait carries under 1% of global bandwidth, which tempers immediate escalation risks. Trader assessments reflect the conditional character of the warnings, the absence of triggering military actions since the statements, and upcoming U.S. midterm elections that could influence future policy.