Trump Threatens Fresh ‘Epic Fury’ Strike on Iran as Tehran Targets Gulf Internet Cables

Trump Warns of Another ‘Epic Fury’ Against Iran as Tehran Threatens Gulf Internet Cables

US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could launch another military operation against Iran as the conflict approaches its eighth month, raising fears of renewed escalation across the Middle East. The warning came amid rising fuel prices, uncertainty over the war’s duration and reports that Tehran is preparing to target undersea internet cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel resume their attacks.

“We may do another little Epic Fury,” Trump said at a rally in Florida on Friday, referring to the US military’s codename for its campaign against Iran, which began on February 28.

Questioning Tehran’s willingness to negotiate, Trump said Iran should agree to discussions if it wanted to avoid further military action.

“If they’re smart, they’ll just say, ‘Let’s get down to business.’ But, you know, I doubt they’ll do that because perhaps they’re not smart,” he said.

The latest warning comes as the conflict continues to take a heavy human and economic toll, with thousands reportedly killed and millions displaced amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

Trump Says Washington Could End War Quickly
Earlier on Friday, Trump said the United States had the capability to bring the conflict to an end quickly but suggested that Washington was weighing whether to end the campaign immediately or allow the fighting to gradually subside.

“We could end it very quickly,” he told reporters on the White House South Lawn. “Do we want to finish it or let it wither is the question.”

Trump also said oil continued to move through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for international energy shipments, adding, “We are getting everything we want.”

His statements have offered varying indications about the war’s timeline and objectives. Earlier this month, Trump said the United States would not attack Iran before next month’s midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. The remarks came amid reports of discussions between Washington and Tehran over ending the conflict.

A report published by The New York Times on Wednesday said US and Israeli military officials had prepared plans for renewed strikes following the midterm elections. Citing US officials, the newspaper reported that potential targets included Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, missiles and drones.

Turkey, France Warn Against Further Escalation
Foreign ministers from several countries have warned that another military offensive against Iran could widen the conflict and intensify economic disruption. The warnings followed a meeting in Istanbul attended by representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Italy.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said a renewed attack would expand the conflict across the region and stressed that diplomacy remained the preferred path towards ending the war.

“We are all in agreement that a new attack on Iran would expand the war in the region,” Fidan said. “A military intervention on Iran is not in any way a solution. Nobody approves this at the moment.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also cautioned against further military action, warning that an escalation could push up global energy prices.

“A further escalation between Iran and the United States would leave no winners and would likely have very serious consequences for hydrocarbon prices,” Barrot said.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany, France and Britain were prepared to negotiate with Tehran to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.

The discussions also covered support for Saudi Arabia and Yemen, alongside the possibility of restarting substantive negotiations with Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Turkey, a NATO member, has maintained contact with Washington, Tehran and regional mediators in an effort to contain the conflict. Fidan said the countries had discussed possible measures to prevent further regional escalation but did not disclose specific details.

Iran Threatens Undersea Internet Cables in the Gulf
Amid concerns about renewed military action, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters that Tehran had prepared detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel launched another offensive.

The officials, who spoke anonymously, provided limited information about how or where the attacks might take place. One said Iran could also seek to prevent repair work following cable damage, potentially prolonging disruptions to internet connectivity and communications services.

“If Iran is attacked, there will be no more red lines … from undersea cables to military bases, including covert ones,” one official said, warning Washington not to “play with fire”.

Yadollah Javani, deputy head of political affairs for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on Wednesday that Iran could target seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz if Iranian infrastructure came under attack.

Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei has separately warned that US-linked digital infrastructure across the Gulf, including data centres and artificial intelligence facilities, could be targeted.

The threats suggest that Tehran could seek to widen the economic consequences of any renewed military campaign by putting critical communications infrastructure at risk. The second Iranian official also argued that Gulf countries should hold Washington responsible for any damage to their undersea cables.

Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran programme at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said the warnings appeared designed to discourage another conflict by raising concerns among Gulf governments and American businesses about potential damage to their investments.

“Tehran wants Gulf states and corporate executives to press Trump over the risks his policies pose to their investment plans,” Vatanka said.

How Attacks on Undersea Cables Could Affect Internet Services
Undersea cables carry approximately 99 per cent of global internet traffic, according to the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency. However, the share of international bandwidth passing through the Strait of Hormuz is relatively small.

Alan Mauldin, research director at telecommunications research firm TeleGeography, said less than 1 per cent of international bandwidth passes through the strait, suggesting that attacks there might have a limited effect on global connectivity overall.

Nevertheless, multiple cable cuts could disrupt regional networks, slow internet speeds and affect financial transactions, e-commerce and cloud computing. The scale of the disruption would depend on the availability of alternative routes, their capacity and how quickly damaged cables could be repaired.

Repair operations could become more complicated during a war, as insurance premiums rise and cable operators face delays in obtaining permission to enter territorial waters.

The Red Sea could present a more significant vulnerability, particularly if Iran received support from its Houthi allies in Yemen. Tehran has not publicly indicated that it intends to attack cables in the Red Sea.

According to Mauldin, routes through the Red Sea account for around 3 per cent of global international demand and approximately 10 per cent of traffic travelling between regions.

Gulf Technology Investments Face Growing Risks
Gulf countries have invested heavily in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence as part of efforts to diversify their economies beyond oil. These ambitions have also strengthened their commercial ties with major US technology companies.

The conflict has already raised concerns about the security of this infrastructure. Iranian strikes directly hit two Amazon Web Services facilities in the United Arab Emirates in March and damaged infrastructure near one of its facilities in Bahrain.

During the same month, the IRGC named several US technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, Apple and Nvidia, as legitimate targets.

Although land-based connections can provide alternative routes for internet traffic, further attacks on cables and digital facilities could place additional pressure on regional networks.

Technology companies and Gulf governments are investing in alternative infrastructure to improve connectivity and resilience. Microsoft, for instance, plans to invest more than $400 million in subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030.

With Trump signalling the possibility of another military campaign and Iran warning that critical communications infrastructure could become a target, the risks extend beyond the battlefield. Any further escalation could affect energy markets, regional security and the digital networks supporting businesses and consumers across the Gulf.