[Iran Threatens to Cut Submarine Cables in the Strait of Hormuz, Demands 'Undersea Toll' from Google and Microsoft] Odaily Planet Daily News: Iran has found a new bargaining chip, proposing to charge fees for submarine cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz, or else face 'internet disconnection.' Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon have been named. Experts warn that any action could trigger a 'cascading digital disaster' affecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. Focusing on the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy corridor, Iran is shifting its attention from traditional oil transportation to another, more concealed but equally critical infrastructure—submarine communication cables. These cables laid across the Strait and the Persian Gulf region handle the majority of internet and financial data transmission between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, forming a vital backbone of the global digital system. Recently, Iran has sent a series of signals attempting to leverage its geographical control over this area into new economic and strategic advantages. Tehran has not only discussed charging multinational tech companies that use these cables but has also hinted through official channels that if relevant parties refuse to cooperate, data transmission could face disruption risks. (Jin10)