--- title: "Iranian-linked ships tracked near undersea cables" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/iranian-linked-ships-tracked-near-undersea-cables" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/iranian-linked-ships-tracked-near-undersea-cables" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/iranian-linked-ships-tracked-near-undersea-cables.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/iranian-linked-ships-tracked-near-undersea-cables" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-11-07T12:05:17.372Z" source_reported: "2026-11-07T08:30:00.000Z" updated: "2026-11-07T12:05:17.372Z" trust_score: 64 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 35 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-07T21:43:27.892Z" --- # Iranian-linked ships tracked near undersea cables *Maritime intelligence firm reports unusual vessel movements coinciding with Tehran's threats to digital infrastructure.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 64 of 100, higher is better. Trust 64: multiple named sources (Windward, FT) and two independent full reports provide corroborated details. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: explains relevance, quotes Windward, gives specific dates, figures, and clear narrative. - Hype 35 of 100, lower is better. Hype 35: mild emphasis; headlines hint at attacks but body reports only observed ship movements. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Three sanctioned Iranian oil tankers and one fishing boat were tracked near undersea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman in October 2026. - Vessels slowed, looped, and disabled AIS transponders while passing over cable routes, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward. - The movements occurred amid repeated Iranian threats to attack digital infrastructure if the US and Israel launch further strikes. - One tanker, Celestial Sea, circled the 2Africa cable for four hours before disabling its tracking system. Three sanctioned Iranian oil tankers and an Iranian fishing boat were tracked near major subsea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman during October 2026. The maritime intelligence firm Windward reported that the vessels slowed, looped, and disabled their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders while passing over cable routes. These actions coincided with repeated threats from Iran to target digital infrastructure in the region should the United States and Israel launch further strikes. ## Vessel movements and cable routes The vessels were observed near several key cable corridors, including 2Africa, Europe India Gateway, and Transworld. The tanker named Celestial Sea circled the 2Africa cable for approximately four hours on October 14, 2026. Later, it disabled its tracking system near the Bay of Bengal Gateway. Windward stated that this behaviour is consistent with mapping cable routes or placing charges. Two of the tankers carried no commercial cargo, according to Ars Technica. ## Disagreement on evidence of sabotage While Ars Technica reported that Windward suggested the movements may indicate mapping or placing charges, JDN - חדשות stated that there is no evidence of sabotage preparation. DiarioBitcoin noted that the movements do not prove an attack was prepared but coincide with Tehran's warnings. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the specific detail that the Celestial Sea circled the 2Africa cable for about four hours on October 14, 2026, before disabling its tracking system near the Bay of Bengal Gateway. This specific detail was present in the left-rated Ynet News report and the centre-rated Ars Technica full report. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 20% (2) - Centre: 20% (2) - Right: 60% (6) 9 of 19 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-07T21:43:27.892Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 44 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-07T23:00:28.026Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from Ynet News led with the observation of Iran-linked vessels following unusual routes and lingering above undersea communications cables. It highlighted that these movements occurred amid repeated Iranian threats to attack undersea internet cables and data centres. The report detailed the specific actions of the vessels, including the Celestial Sea circling the 2Africa cable and later disabling its tracking system. It also included statements from Iranian officials explicitly referring to undersea internet cables and threats against digital infrastructure. The report quoted Sidharth Kaushal, a naval warfare specialist, who suggested Iran might be trying to demonstrate its capacity to damage undersea infrastructure. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from Ars Technica and datacenterdynamics.com focused on the unusual movements of Iran-linked ships near subsea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman. Ars Technica's full report detailed the tracking of three sanctioned tankers and an Iranian fishing boat by Windward, noting their behaviour of slowing down, looping, and disabling AIS transponders. It linked these actions to Iran's threats to attack such infrastructure in response to potential US and Israeli strikes. The report also mentioned the 2Africa cable, owned in part by Meta, and quoted Windward's assessment that the movements suggest mapping or placing charges. Datacenterdynamics.com's digest noted the circling of cables amid escalating threats against digital infrastructure. ### Right - The right-rated reports from Yonhap News Agency, Vision Times, Zero Hedge, topwar.ru, The Media Line, and news-pravda.com highlighted the presence of Iran-linked vessels near undersea communication cables. These reports generally framed the activity as suspicious and potentially linked to sabotage or an impending threat, often mentioning "attack threats" or "sabotage concerns." Vision Times noted that at least four Iran-linked vessels were tracked circling, loitering, or disabling their tracking systems. Topwar.ru's headline suggested Iran was mapping submarine cables and threatening a "Caucasus Trump Route." Zero Hedge's digest included a philosophical statement about survival rates. News-pravda.com cited the Financial Times regarding unusual maneuvers near underwater communication cables. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 1 - mixed: 2 - high: 4 - unknown: 9 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [aljazeera.net](https://aljazeera.net/ebusiness/2026/11/8/%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%83%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%b3%d9%81%d9%86-%d9%85%d8%b1%d8%aa%d8%a8%d8%b7%d8%a9-%d8%a8%d8%a5%d9%8a%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%aa%d8%ab%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d9%85%d8%ae%d8%a7%d9%88%d9%81) — Movement of Vessels Linked to Iran Raises Concerns About Communications Security in the Gulf. - [shiftdelete.net](https://shiftdelete.net/hurmuz-bogazi-denizalti-kablolari-tankerler) — Submarine Cables in the Strait of Hormuz May Be Under Threat. - [DiarioBitcoin](https://diariobitcoin.com/tecnologia/buques-vinculados-a-iran-aparecen-cerca-de-cables-submarinos-en-hormuz) — Ships Linked to Iran Appear Near Submarine Cables in Hormuz - [themondonews.com](https://themondonews.com/technology/ships-near-undersea-cables-as-iran-warns-president-trump) — Ships Near Undersea Cables as Iran Warns President Trump - [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261107023800009) — Four Iranian-Linked Vessels Spotted Near Undersea Cable After 'Attack Threat' - [visiontimes.com](https://visiontimes.com/2026/11/06/iran-linked-ships-raise-sabotage-concerns-near-critical-undersea-cables.html) — Iran-Linked Ships Raise Sabotage Concerns Near Critical Undersea Cables - [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/11/ships-loiter-near-subsea-cables-amid-irans-warnings-to-trump) — Ships loiter near subsea cables amid Iran's warnings to Trump - [Zero Hedge](https://zerohedge.com/geopolitical/why-were-iranian-linked-ships-lingering-over-worlds-undersea-internet-cables) — Why Were Iranian-Linked Ships Lingering Over The World's Undersea Internet Cables - [Pentapostagma](https://pentapostagma.gr/kosmos/enoples-syrraxeis/7397452_iranika-ploia-sto-megalytero-ypothalassio-kalodio-toy-kosmoy) — Iranian Ships on the World's Largest Undersea Cable - [notiziegeopolitiche.net](https://notiziegeopolitiche.net/golfo-di-oman-petroliere-sanzionate-e-bandiere-sospette-vicino-ai-cavi-sottomarini) — Gulf of Oman, Sanctioned Oil Tankers and Suspicious Flags Near Submarine Cables - [Ynet News](https://ynetnews.com/article/sjmhzljtgg) — Iran-linked ships spotted hovering over subsea internet cables after threats, report - [datacenterdynamics.com](https://datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/iran-linked-ships-circle-subsea-cables-in-the-middle-east-report) — Iran-linked ships circle subsea cables in the Middle East - [LiFO](https://lifo.gr/now/world/ploia-poy-syndeontai-me-iran-kinoyntai-ypopta-pano-apo-ypothalassia-kalodia-meta-tis) — Iran-Linked Ships Move Suspiciously over Undersea Cables After Tehran's Threats - [topwar.ru](https://topwar.ru/293038-iran-kartografiruet-podvodnye-kabeli-i-ugrozhaet-kavkazskomu-marshrutu-trampa.html) — Iran Maps Submarine Cables and Threatens the Caucasus Trump Route - [The Media Line](https://themedialine.org/headlines/iranian-ships-suspected-of-mapping-undersea-cables-for-sabotage-following-tehrans-threats) — Iranian Ships Suspected of Mapping Undersea Cables for Sabotage Following Tehran’s Threats - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/11/06/2722448.html) — According to the Financial Times, over the past few weeks, at least four vessels linked to Iran have been spotted performing unusual maneuvers near underwater communication cables in the Gulf of Oman - [www.ertnews.gr](https://ertnews.gr/eidiseis/financial-times-ploia-pou-syndeontai-me-to-iran-kinountai-pano-apo-ypothalassia-kalodia-ston-kolpo-tou-oman) — Financial Times: Iran-Linked Ships Travel over Undersea Cables in Gulf of Oman - [JDN - חדשות](https://jdn.co.il/news/2760966) — Disturbing: Unusual Movements of Iranian Vessels Near Communication Cables in the Gulf - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/2f0e7e33eb876442) — Iran-linked vessels said to hover over Gulf sea cables ## Questions **What unusual activity was observed involving Iranian-linked vessels?** Three sanctioned Iranian oil tankers and one fishing boat were tracked near major subsea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman in October 2026. They exhibited unusual behaviour, including slowing down, looping, and disabling their tracking systems while passing over cable routes. **Why are these vessel movements significant?** The movements occurred amid repeated threats from Iran to target digital infrastructure, such as undersea internet cables, if the United States and Israel launch further strikes against Iran. This has raised concerns about potential sabotage of critical communications infrastructure. **Which specific cable was closely monitored by a vessel?** The oil tanker named Celestial Sea was observed circling the 2Africa cable for approximately four hours on October 14, 2026. It later disabled its tracking system in an area between the 2Africa cable and the Bay of Bengal Gateway. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/iranian-linked-ships-tracked-near-undersea-cables. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Iranian-linked ships tracked near undersea cables", https://mediabias.news/conflict/iranian-linked-ships-tracked-near-undersea-cables