IRGC Issues Direct Threat to US Tech Firms

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of Iran's armed forces, has issued a formal threat against the operations of 18 major US technology companies located in the Middle East. The military organization has explicitly instructed employees of these firms to vacate their workplaces immediately to ensure their safety.

The warning extends beyond company staff. Individuals residing in close proximity to the facilities operated by these corporations have also been advised to evacuate the area immediately.

Targeted Companies and Justification

The list of 18 companies identified by the IRGC includes several industry leaders. The organizations named in the directive are:

  • Apple, Google, Meta, and NVIDIA
  • Microsoft, Oracle, Tesla, and HP
  • Intel, Palantir, Boeing, Dell, Cisco, and IBM

In a public statement, the IRGC justified these threats by claiming that American and AI-driven companies are the primary elements in designing and tracking terror targets. Consequently, the military force declared these institutions to be legitimate targets in response to what they described as a terrorist operation.

Context of Regional Tensions

This warning follows a series of escalations in the region. Earlier this month, Iranian drones targeted Amazon data centers located in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

The IRGC has indicated a broader intent to strike companies and banks associated with both the United States and Israel. The group specifically noted that the use of Anthropic's AI in initial airstrikes against Iran in late February served as a catalyst for this shift in military focus.