{"id":94892,"date":"2026-05-17T12:57:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T12:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/?p=94892"},"modified":"2026-05-17T13:03:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T13:03:54","slug":"in-the-strait-of-hormuz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/in-the-strait-of-hormuz\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran targets a new force in the Strait of Hormuz similar to the Suez Canal."},"content":{"rendered":"

Iran threatens to disrupt global data traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and target undersea cables<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Iran is reportedly moving toward adopting a new strategy targeting one of the world’s most vital digital corridors by focusing on the undersea cables crossing the Strait of Hormuz, which carry massive volumes of internet data and financial transactions between Europe, Asia, and the Gulf region.<\/p>\n

This shift comes after Tehran succeeded in strengthening its security and military influence in the strait during periods of regional tension, prompting it\u2014according to indications\u2014to expand its pressure tools into the global digital and economic sphere by seeking to impose fees on major international technology companies for using this critical underwater infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Reports indicate that Iran-related media outlets have hinted at the possibility of disrupting or restricting data flows passing through the strait if major companies refuse to comply or pay potential fees, a move that could open a new front in geopolitical confrontation that goes beyond oil and energy into the global communications sector.<\/p>\n

According to available information, Iranian lawmakers have recently discussed regulatory and legislative mechanisms that could allow Tehran to expand its influence over this strategic route, in a model similar to the fees imposed on major commercial passages such as the Suez Canal\u2014only this time targeting the world\u2019s digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n

This development is raising increasing concerns among international markets and technology companies, given that any disruption in data flow through the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> could directly affect international communications, financial services, and digital economic activity between East and West\u2014adding a new dimension to tensions surrounding the vital waterway.<\/p>\n

Navigation disruption in the Strait of Hormuz expands Iranian pressure from energy to the global digital infrastructure<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz reveal an unprecedented rise in the strait\u2019s importance\u2014not only as a strategic energy corridor but also as a multidimensional geopolitical and economic pressure tool\u2014amid continued tensions between Iran and the United States and a sharp decline in maritime traffic compared to pre-war levels.<\/p>\n

According to recent data, ship movements through the strait have dropped significantly\u2014from around 135 daily crossings before the war to extremely limited numbers\u2014while dozens of vessels have come under attack or faced obstacles during attempts to pass, reflecting the fragility of maritime security in this vital artery through which a key share of global trade and energy flows.<\/p>\n

Hormuz turns into a comprehensive economic leverage tool<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Available indicators confirm that Iran is not only seeking to control ship movements and oil supply routes, but also appears to be working toward establishing a long-term model of regulating and imposing broad fees on maritime passage. This aligns with earlier signs of Tehran\u2019s intention to target international undersea cables and expand its control over global digital data flows.<\/p>\n

This reinforces international concerns that the Strait of Hormuz may gradually transform into a dual-impact strategic corridor\u2014combining control over energy and trade on one hand, and communications and digital infrastructure on the other.<\/p>\n

Data also show that a significant number of Iran-linked or U.S.-sanctioned vessels continue to cross despite the naval blockade, highlighting the complexity of the international situation and the difficulty of fully enforcing control over the strait.<\/p>\n

With international negotiations stalled, the battle over Hormuz today appears far broader than a mere struggle over maritime navigation. It has become part of a wider reshaping of global economic power dynamics, as Iran uses its strategic geographic position as a pressure card extending across oil, trade, and data in the face of mounting Western efforts to ensure unrestricted freedom of navigation.<\/p>\n

A growing humanitarian crisis for stranded sailors in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The humanitarian impact of the Strait of Hormuz crisis continues to worsen, with around 20,000 sailors stranded aboard thousands of ships in the Gulf region due to ongoing Iranian restrictions and stalled ceasefire<\/a> negotiations between Tehran and Washington, despite earlier temporary improvements in maritime movement.<\/p>\n

Deteriorating living and psychological conditions on ships<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The situation reflects the transformation of the strait from merely a hotspot of geopolitical and economic conflict into a global humanitarian crisis directly affecting international supply chains. Sailors face deteriorating living and psychological conditions, including food shortages, delayed wages, poor communication access, and constant fear of military attacks.<\/p>\n

With ships unable to move and insurance coverage declining, many crews are now trapped without legal or logistical means to reach ports\u2014an unprecedented reality in the history of modern navigation, according to experts.<\/p>\n

The continuation of this crisis confirms that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz no longer threaten only energy, trade, or even digital infrastructure, but now pose a direct threat to the lives of tens of thousands of maritime workers who have become victims of a complex international conflict beyond their control.<\/p>\n

It also underscores that securing the strait has become a multidimensional global issue\u2014military, economic, and humanitarian\u2014amid the absence of quick solutions capable of ending the sailors\u2019 suffering and restoring stability to one of the world\u2019s most critical trade arteries.<\/p>\n

United News Network \u2013 UNN Arabic<\/strong><\/p>\n

An independent media platform providing reliable news and objective analysis. It strives to promote peace and cultural dialogue globally, delivering truth and building bridges of understanding between nations.<\/p>\n

For more news, visit our homepage:
https:\/\/un-news.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Author:<\/strong> Advisor Faisal Al-Mutairi
Publication date:<\/strong> 17 May 2026
Last updated:<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Iran threatens to disrupt global data traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and target undersea cables Iran is reportedly moving toward adopting a new strategy targeting one of the world’s most vital digital corridors by focusing on the undersea cables crossing the Strait of Hormuz, which carry massive volumes of internet data and financial transactions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":94891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-94892","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94892","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94892"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94892\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94963,"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94892\/revisions\/94963"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/un-news.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}