Iran Threatens Global Energy and Internet Infrastructure as Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
ISLAMABAD, August 12, 2026: Iran has issued a fresh warning that any renewed military threat against the country could trigger attacks on energy infrastructure and internet-linked systems, as tensions continue to surround the Strait of Hormuz.
Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed that no US warships are currently stationed in the Persian Gulf.
According to Mohebbi, the United States had deployed between 30 and 40 warships in the Gulf during the recent conflict with Iran. He claimed that the American naval presence had since disappeared from the area.
The IRGC spokesperson said Iran’s military response had caused substantial losses to its adversaries. He alleged that US strikes targeted Iran’s South Pars gas field and the Asalouyeh energy complex, followed by Iranian attacks against the United States, Israel and their allies.
Mohebbi warned that if Iran faced another major threat, Tehran could target energy systems in the region as well as infrastructure connected to the global internet.
Strait of Hormuz remains key point of tension
The warning comes as Iranian officials continue to link the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to political and diplomatic developments.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a former IRGC commander, said the strategic waterway would remain closed until Tehran’s conditions were met.
Rezaei said the United States would have to end the war and restore Iran’s frozen financial assets. He added that other Iranian demands had already been communicated to Washington through intermediaries.
He also indicated that any separate understanding reached between Iran and Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz could change the situation.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Iran and Oman are continuing, although Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that ongoing talks should not automatically be interpreted as a sign that the waterway is about to reopen.
US vessel incident adds to regional tensions
Separately, US media reported that American military helicopters fired on a Panama-flagged vessel that allegedly attempted to pass through an Iranian naval blockade.
The reports said the vessel was warned to turn back but allegedly continued its course. US helicopters subsequently fired toward the front section of the ship in an apparent attempt to stop it.
Further details about the incident and the extent of any damage were not immediately clear.
The developments have added another layer to tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important maritime route for global energy supplies and international shipping.
With Iran maintaining its demands for the waterway’s reopening and warning of possible retaliation against critical infrastructure, uncertainty continues to surround the region’s security and energy outlook.
Table of Contents
