KBS 뉴스 reported on Friday that Iran has drawn up a plan to strike undersea cables in the Gulf region in preparation for a possible resumption of US attacks. The South Korean broadcaster did not detail how the plan would be carried out or how it obtained the information.
The report emerged alongside other developments in the region. According to KBS 뉴스, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said two oil tankers stopped operating in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines. Separately, 뉴시스 reported that an oil tanker struck off the coast of the UAE is leaking oil, and that beaches in the area have been closed entirely.
US President Donald Trump responded to the cable report by saying Iran is fabricating everything to push oil prices higher ahead of the midterm elections, according to 연합뉴스. YTN reported that Trump accused Iran of spreading false agitation over oil prices, while Iran countered by unveiling a new type of drone.
The material does not specify which cables Iran is alleged to have targeted, what stage the planning has reached, or whether US officials have confirmed the claim. The reports also do not establish a link between the alleged cable plan and the tanker incidents.
Undersea cables carry a large share of international data and financial traffic, which is why the Gulf's seabed infrastructure is treated as strategically sensitive.
Watch for official responses from US and Iranian authorities, and for any confirmation of the cable report from governments or telecom operators in the region.
