Iranian officials, including IRGC spokesmen, issued repeated public warnings in October 2026 that undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz would become targets if the United States or Israel renewed military strikes, citing seven major lines carrying regional internet traffic. Senior security sources reported detailed contingency plans to damage the cables and impede repairs, framing them as legitimate responses in any resumed conflict. Maritime tracking data from October showed several Iran-linked, sanctioned vessels loitering, looping, and going dark over cable corridors in the Gulf of Oman, consistent with mapping or preparatory activity. No physical damage has occurred despite these signals, and diplomacy remains an option amid a lull in direct strikes. Trader consensus reflects these unresolved tensions and execution barriers, assigning roughly 12% probability to damage by year-end.