‘Another Epic Fury’: Trump Warns Iran Amid Threats to Gulf Undersea Internet Cables

Trump Warns Iran of Another ‘Epic Fury’ as Tehran Threatens Gulf’s Undersea Internet Cables

US President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible resumption of military operations against Iran, warning that Washington could launch another offensive as tensions rise over the future of the conflict. The warning comes amid reports that Tehran is preparing to target undersea internet cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel renew their attacks.

“We may do another little Epic Fury,” Trump said at a rally in Florida on Friday, referring to the US military’s codename for its campaign against Iran, which began on February 28.

Casting doubt on the prospects of a diplomatic breakthrough, Trump urged Tehran to agree to negotiations rather than risk further military action.

“If they’re smart, they’ll just say, ‘Let’s get down to business.’ But, you know, I doubt they’ll do that because perhaps they’re not smart,” he said.

The remarks come as the prolonged conflict fuels uncertainty in energy markets and raises concerns about its impact on the US economy ahead of the midterm elections. Thousands of people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

Trump Says Washington Can End the Conflict Quickly
Earlier on Friday, Trump said the United States could end the war quickly but questioned whether it should bring the military campaign to an immediate conclusion or allow it to gradually lose momentum.

“We could end it very quickly,” he told reporters on the White House South Lawn. “Do we want to finish it or let it wither is the question.”

Trump also maintained that oil continued to flow through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global energy shipments, saying, “We are getting everything we want.”

His statements have offered varying signals about the war’s objectives and timeline. Earlier this month, Trump said Washington would not launch an attack on Iran before next month’s midterm elections, amid reports of discussions between the two countries on ending the conflict.

A report by The New York Times on Wednesday said US and Israeli military officials had developed plans for renewed strikes after the elections. Citing US officials, the report identified Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, missile systems and drone capabilities as potential targets.

Regional Powers Urge Washington and Tehran to Avoid Escalation
Foreign ministers from several countries have warned that renewed military action against Iran could expand the conflict and worsen its economic consequences. The concerns were raised during a meeting in Istanbul attended by representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Italy.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said another attack would risk spreading the war across the region and called for diplomatic efforts to take precedence over military action.

“We are all in agreement that a new attack on Iran would expand the war in the region,” Fidan said, adding that military intervention was not a solution.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot warned that a fresh escalation could have serious consequences for global energy prices.

“A further escalation between Iran and the United States would leave no winners and would likely have very serious consequences for hydrocarbon prices,” he said.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany, France and Britain remained willing to negotiate with Tehran to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.

The Istanbul discussions also covered support for Saudi Arabia and Yemen, as well as the possibility of resuming substantive negotiations with Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Turkey has continued contacts with Washington, Tehran and regional mediators in an effort to prevent the conflict from spreading.

Iran Prepares to Target Undersea Communications Cables
The prospect of renewed US-Israeli strikes has raised concerns about the security of critical communications infrastructure across the Gulf.

Two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters that Tehran had prepared plans to target undersea internet cables in the region if Washington and Tel Aviv launched another military campaign.

The officials, who spoke anonymously, offered few details about the proposed operations. One said Iran could attempt to prevent repairs after cable cuts, potentially extending disruptions to internet connectivity and other communications services.

“If Iran is attacked, there will be no more red lines … from undersea cables to military bases, including covert ones,” one official said, warning Washington not to “play with fire”.

Yadollah Javani, deputy head of political affairs for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on Wednesday that Tehran could target seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz if Iranian infrastructure came under attack.

Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei has separately warned that US-linked digital infrastructure across the Gulf, including data centres and artificial intelligence facilities, could also be targeted.

Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran programme at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said the threats appeared intended to make Gulf governments and US businesses concerned about the financial risks of renewed military action.

“Tehran wants Gulf states and corporate executives to press Trump over the risks his policies pose to their investment plans,” Vatanka said.

How Cable Attacks Could Affect Internet Connectivity
Undersea cables carry approximately 99 per cent of global internet traffic, according to the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency. However, less than 1 per cent of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Alan Mauldin, research director at telecommunications research firm TeleGeography.

This suggests that attacks in the strait alone might have a limited effect on global connectivity. However, multiple cable cuts could still disrupt regional internet services, slow data transfers and affect financial transactions, e-commerce and cloud computing.

The extent of any disruption would depend on the availability of alternative routes, their capacity and the speed with which damaged cables could be repaired.

Repairs during wartime could be particularly challenging because of security risks, rising insurance costs and delays in obtaining permission to operate in territorial waters.

The Red Sea is another potential vulnerability because of its importance to international data traffic. The risk could increase if Iran received support from its Houthi allies in Yemen, although Tehran has not publicly announced plans to target cables in the Red Sea.

According to Mauldin, routes through the Red Sea account for about 3 per cent of global international demand and roughly 10 per cent of traffic travelling between regions.

Gulf Technology Investments Face Fresh Uncertainty
Gulf countries have invested billions of dollars in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence as they seek to diversify their economies beyond oil. These ambitions have also strengthened their commercial ties with major US technology companies.

The conflict has already raised concerns about the vulnerability of such investments. Iranian strikes directly hit two Amazon Web Services facilities in the United Arab Emirates in March and damaged infrastructure near one of its facilities in Bahrain.

During the same month, the IRGC identified US technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, Apple and Nvidia, as legitimate targets.

While land-based networks can provide alternative routes for internet traffic, simultaneous damage to undersea cables and digital facilities could place significant pressure on regional connectivity.

Technology companies and Gulf governments are investing in additional infrastructure to improve network resilience. Microsoft, for example, plans to invest more than $400 million in subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030.

With Trump signalling the possibility of another offensive and Tehran threatening vital communications networks, the confrontation risks extending beyond military installations to the Gulf’s energy supplies, internet infrastructure and ambitions to become a global technology hub.