Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian lawmakers have proposed charging tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft annual fees for fiber-optic cables running beneath the Strait of Hormuz . The proposal includes requiring these companies to operate under Iranian regulations and charging transit fees to international consortia operating the cables . An Iranian parliamentary member estimated potential revenues from transit fees at up to $15 billion , though international maritime law includes a transit passage principle protecting uninterrupted communications, and Iran has signed but never ratified the relevant UN convention .

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-05-19