BlockBeats News, May 18th, according to CNN, inspired by the successful blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during wartime, Iran is now eyeing a hidden artery of the global economy: the underwater fiber optic cables running beneath the strait, carrying a massive amount of internet and financial data flow between Europe, Asia, and the Persian Gulf. Iran intends to charge major global tech giants for using the underwater cables laid under the Hormuz Strait; at the same time, media closely affiliated with the Iranian government has subtly issued threats, stating that if the companies refuse to pay, their data transmission may face interruptions. Last week, lawmakers in Tehran discussed a related proposal, which could potentially target the submarine cables connecting Arab countries with Europe and Asia.

“We will charge a fee for the internet cables,” Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari claimed on social media last week. According to media reports closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Tehran's scheme to profit from this strait would require tech giants such as Google (GOOG.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Meta Platforms (META.O), and Amazon (AMZN.O) to comply with Iranian law; meanwhile, submarine cable operators will be mandated to pay licensing fees for cable passage, with exclusive maintenance and repair rights granted solely to Iranian domestic companies. (IG)