This study analyzes the structural shift characterizing geopolitical competition in the Arabian Gulf region in 2026, defined by the transition of regional conflict dynamics from conventional military and geoeconomic hard power to the “militarization of virtual space” as a pivotal mechanism for asymmetric deterrence. The research addresses a core problem centered on investigating the impact and scope of hybrid threats, along with cyber and information operations conducted by Iran against the critical oil and gas infrastructure of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. This is especially critical given the accelerating integration of Industrial Control Systems (ICS/SCADA) and the comprehensive automation governing global energy supplies. Utilizing the Systems Approach and Geopolitical Analysis, the study provides a critical reading that deconstructs Iran’s offensive cyber doctrine while objectively evaluating the efficiency and outcomes of current Gulf security policies in safeguarding digital and resource sovereignty. The study concludes that cyber space has evolved from a mere technical support environment into an independent geopolitical battlefield, conceptualized as the “Digital Strait Battle.” Consequently, this requires GCC states to establish advanced standards in joint cyber defense governance, transitioning from isolated preventive defense models to a binding collective deterrence framework capable of raising the cost of virtual intrusions and securing the core of the international economy.