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Odaily Planet Daily News: Iran has found a new bargaining chip, threatening to charge fees for undersea cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz, or else face an "internet blackout." Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon have been named. Experts warn that any such move could trigger a "cascading digital catastrophe" affecting Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy chokepoint, Iran is shifting its focus from traditional oil transportation to another more隐蔽 yet equally critical infrastructure—undersea communication cables. These cables, laid across the strait and the Persian Gulf, handle the vast majority of internet and financial data transmission between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, forming a key backbone of the global digital ecosystem.
In recent days, Iran has been signaling, attempting to leverage its geographical control over these waters into new economic and strategic leverage. Tehran is not only discussing charging multinational tech companies for using these cables but also hinting, through official channels, that data transmission could face disruption risks if relevant parties refuse to comply. (Jinshi)
