The U.S.-led Operation Epic Fury, now in its third week since February 28, has hit over 5,000 Iranian targets to curb retaliation, including a recent airstrike on a telecommunications site possibly tied to censorship.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on March 4, attacking ships and laying mines in the vital oil chokepoint carrying 20% of global supply, prompting President Trump to seek a multinational naval coalition—though France rejected it and others hesitate.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed ceasefire talks as delusional, vowing continued resistance while justifying the near-total internet shutdown for security reasons; the war has already cost the U.S. $12 billion.
Based on reports from early March 2026, U.S. and Israeli forces have engaged in extensive airstrikes against Iran, specifically targeting military, energy, and key communications infrastructure, including telecommunications sites and data centers.
Strikes have targeted Iranian data centers, including at least two in Tehran, one of which was used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
These datacenters were built to filter internet traffic in Iran and keep Iranians out of unbiased news and media coverage against the corrupt regime. Iran also used these computer networks to monitor mobile phones, the internet and crush any dissent inside Iran.
Reports indicate that a telecom complex in Hamadan, Iran, was hit by U.S./Israeli strikes.
Following strikes on telecommunications, Iran experienced a significant, ongoing internet blackout, with reports of a key telecommunications line collapsing.
The U.S. military has conducted precise strikes on IRGC compounds and military facilities, with President Trump claiming that U.S. and Israeli strikes have knocked out Iran’s air force and all telecommunications
Trump Calls for Warships in Hormuz, China Offers Words Instead
On March 14, Trump urged countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK to deploy ships after Iran closed the vital oil chokepoint, which carries 20% of global trade.
China responded hours later with a pledge for de-escalation talks, no vessels committed, as the U.S. surged its own carrier groups nearby. The next day, Taiwan tracked 26 Chinese aircraft and seven navy ships around the island—routine activity misrepresented online as a dramatic ‘surrounding’ in response to Trump, fueling criticism and memes.
China does not want more embarrassment if an Iranian drone strike hits a Chinese warship, and if the Chinese warship fails to intercept the drone, it would be a significant embarrassment for China.
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