US President Donald Trump has warned of a possible fresh US military strike on Iran as the conflict approaches its eighth month, while Tehran has reportedly prepared plans to target undersea internet cables in the Gulf if Washington and Israel resume attacks. The escalating threats have raised concerns over regional security, energy prices and critical digital infrastructure.
Speaking at a rally in Florida on Friday, Trump said the United States might launch another operation, referring to the military campaign known as “Epic Fury”, which began on February 28. He did not provide details about a potential new offensive.
Trump Says War Could End Quickly
Trump also said Washington could end the conflict quickly but questioned whether an immediate conclusion was preferable to allowing the war to gradually lose momentum. He claimed oil continued to flow through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Reports have suggested that US and Israeli militaries have prepared contingency plans for renewed strikes following next month's US midterm elections. Potential targets reportedly include Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and missile and drone capabilities.
Regional Leaders Urge Diplomacy
Foreign ministers from Britain, France, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Italy discussed the conflict during a meeting in Istanbul.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that another attack could widen the war across the region, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot cautioned that further escalation could push up oil prices and cause serious economic consequences.
Germany, France and Britain also expressed readiness to negotiate with Iran to address concerns about its nuclear programme.
Iran Threatens Gulf Undersea Internet Cables
Two senior Iranian security officials reportedly told Reuters that Tehran had developed plans to target undersea communications cables if the United States and Israel resumed military action. One official warned that Iran could also seek to prevent repairs, potentially prolonging communication disruptions.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have separately raised the possibility of targeting major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have also warned that US-linked digital infrastructure, including data centres and artificial intelligence facilities across the Gulf, could become targets.
Undersea cables carry approximately 99 per cent of global internet traffic, according to the International Telecommunication Union. However, telecommunications research director Alan Mauldin said less than 1 per cent of international bandwidth passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Multiple cable cuts could still disrupt financial transactions, e-commerce, cloud computing and internet services. Wartime restrictions, insurance costs and repair delays could extend outages.
Gulf Technology Investments Face New Risks
Gulf countries have invested heavily in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure to diversify their economies beyond oil. Previous attacks reportedly damaged Amazon Web Services infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates and near a facility in Bahrain.
Microsoft has also planned more than $400 million in subsea and terrestrial connectivity investments across the Middle East by 2030. As tensions persist, the resilience of regional communication networks and the economic consequences of another military escalation remain key concerns.
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