Maj-Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has warned the United States that Tehran may target undersea communications cables and AI facilities in the Gulf. This threat follows a breakdown in negotiations regarding the Strait of Hormuz and intensifying U.S. economic pressure.
The $2 trillion target on Gulf digital infrastructure
Speaking on the state broadcaster Press TV, Maj-Gen. Mohsen Rezaei characterized the region's undersea cables, data centers, and artificial-intelligence sites as assets worth more than $2 trillion. according to the report, Rezaei warned that these specific digital assets would be among the first targets if hostilities resume, signaling a shift from traditional military engagement to the targeting of "soft-power" infrastructure.
This strategy leverages the physical geography of the Persian Gulf, where critical data paths for international financial transactions and global connectivity rely on Iranian territory and waters. By threatening the "pulse of the American economy," Tehran is attempting to create a digital deterrent that transcends conventional naval warfare.
Seven conditions and the "garbage deals" deadlock
The current escalation stems from a diplomatic impasse over the Strait of Hormuz. As reported, Maj-Gen. Mohsen Rezaei stated that Tehran has set seven specific conditions for reopening the strait, which include the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade and the easing of restrictions on Iranian oil sales.
The Trump administration has shown no sign of conceding to these demands. Ambassador Mike Waltz and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have reportedly dismissed the Iranian proposals as "garbage deals," maintaining that any viable agreement must include irreversible limits on the nuclear program of Iran.
Scott Bessent's shift to "absolute isolation"
The economic pressure on Tehran has intensified under a new Treasury Department strategy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has moved the U.S. beyond "maximum pressure" to a policy of "absolute isolation," which involves halting new shipments of Iranian crude and tightening sanctions on ships that blend oil with international carriers.
This economic siege is already producing tangible results. According to the source, analysts have noted a steep decline in the value of the Iranian rial and a shrinking buffer of foreign-currency reserves, suggesting that the regime is facing severe internal financial instability while attempting to project external strength.
The risk to Chinese-led AI research hubs
The scope of Iran's threats extends beyond American interests to include Chinese-led AI research hubs in the Persian Gulf. Maj-Gen. Mohsen Rezaei specifically mentioned these facilities, noting their reliance on data paths intended for future ion-channel computing, as potential targets in a wider conflict.
This inclusion reflects a broader trend in regional geopolitics where digital infrastructure becomes a proxy for political leverage. by threatening Chinese assets, Tehran is signaling that it is willing to disrupt the broader technological ecosystem of the Gulf to force U.S. concessions, potentially complicating Beijing's strategic investments in the region.
Which nuclear limits would satisfy the Trump administration?
Despite the stark warnings from Maj-Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, several critical details remain unverified. The source does not specify the exact "irreversible limits" on the nulcear program that the Trump administration requires, nor does it detail the specific seven conditions demanded by Tehran beyond the blockade and oil sales.
Furthermore, while the report highlights the U.S. position through Ambassador Mike Waltz and Secretary Bessent, it offers no confirmation on whether the U.S. Coast Guard has considered the risk to the $2 trillion in digital infrastructure as a primary factor in its current blockade operations.
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