Not Oil: Iran's New Revenue Source in the Strait of Hormuz Could Shake the World

Iran’s potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz would shake the world with rising oil prices and disruptions to the global economy. However, the country still holds another important card that could upend global affairs.

Several experts state that Iran could impose fees on the undersea cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Numerous cables traverse those waters and are crucial for countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

One outlet suggesting this is Tasnim, a news agency close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In an article titled “Three Practical Steps for Generating Revenue from Straits of Hormuz Internet Cables,” the media explains how this new money-making machine would operate.

The article outlines three ways this new revenue mechanism would function. One involves initial permits and the imposition of annual renewal fees for owners or operators of foreign cables.

Additionally, technology companies using the undersea cables must operate in accordance with Iranian law. Finally, Iran must ensure that control and maintenance of the cables are in the hands of domestic companies, as cited from Tom’s Hardware on Wednesday (13/5/2026).

Like Tasnim, Fars, which is also affiliated with the IRGC, has made similar suggestions. The media states that the idea of disrupting internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz could cause losses of tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in just a few days.

The impact of such disruptions would clearly be widespread. It would affect not only US tech giants but also local and global businesses.