Tasnim says Tehran could require tech giants to obtain licenses, accept inspections and pay fees, as a top security official threatens regional data infrastructure.
Iran undersea cables could soon face licensing, technical inspections and fees for companies such as Google and Meta, according to a summary of a Tasnim News Agency report circulated on October 12. Tasnim is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The report follows a warning on Sunday from Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, who threatened regional cables and data centers if war resumes.
Tasnim Report on Permits, Inspections and Sovereignty Fees
According to the summary, Tehran could require Google and Meta to obtain licenses, accept inspections and pay transit fees for cables in Iranian territorial waters. The idea builds on Tasnim and Fars articles from May. Iran International reported that Fars called for permits and toll payments, with foreign companies operating under Iranian rules.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), as republished by GlobalSecurity.org, said the two agencies also urged Iranian firms to handle cable maintenance and repairs. TIME reported in May that Iran had adopted no official policy or law on cable fees. This research found no later confirmation of one. TIME also reported that military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari posted that Iran would impose fees on internet cables.
Strait of Hormuz Becomes a Digital Chokepoint
Fars said more than 99% of international internet communications travel through undersea cables, according to Iran International. Marine Insight reported that about seven major submarine cables cross the Strait of Hormuz area, carrying banking data, cloud services and traffic between Asia, Europe and the Gulf.
FALCON and Gulf Bridge International (GBI) pass through Iranian territorial waters, Marine Insight said, while most cables run closer to Oman. TIME quoted experts who said operators deliberately routed most cables through Omani waters, where Iran would lack authority to set permits or fees. Readers can follow earlier coverage in our Strait of Hormuz crisis reporting.
Mohsen Rezaei Warns of Strikes on Gulf Data Centers
Rezaei told Press TV that cables, data centers and AI centers “will be in the crosshairs” if war breaks out again, Kayhan reported. He put their value above $2 trillion and tied them to the American economy in the region.
The Sunday Guardian said the valuation is his own claim and has not been independently established. Daily Pakistan noted that his remarks did not show all the assets are American owned or that Iran has confirmed plans to hit specific sites. National Security Journal, citing Reuters, reported that Rezaei also called Washington’s reply to Iran’s seven conditions for reopening Hormuz insufficient. See also our analysis of Gulf data centers and AI infrastructure.
Are Iran Undersea Cables Subject to Sovereignty Fees?
RFE/RL reported that experts see the proposals as more a threat than a workable plan. It said Article 79 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea protects the right to lay and maintain cables, and that Iran signed the convention but never ratified it.
Interesting Engineering, citing CNN, reported that SOAS professor Irini Papanicolopulu said existing cables stay under their original contracts, while states can set conditions for new ones. Tech Times reported that US sanctions bar American companies from paying Iranian state entities. It added that CNN contacted Google, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon in May and received no public response at that time. No company reply to the latest report was found.
FAQs
What are the proposed Iran undersea cables fees?
Tasnim says Google and Meta could need licenses, technical inspections and sovereignty fees for cables in Iranian territorial waters.
Which undersea internet cables cross Iranian waters?
FALCON and Gulf Bridge International pass through Iranian territorial waters, according to Marine Insight.
Has Iran approved fees on submarine cables in the Strait of Hormuz?
TIME reported in May that no official policy or law existed. No later confirmation was found.
What did Mohsen Rezaei say about Gulf data centers and cables?
Kayhan reported he warned that cables, data centers and AI centers would be targeted if war resumes, and valued them above $2 trillion.
Can Iran legally charge Google and Meta for undersea internet cables?
RFE/RL reported that experts cite UN Convention on the Law of the Sea protections for cables, which weaken Iran’s case.