Iran has named 18 technology companies with dire consequences if the US continues to attack and kill the Middle Eastern country’s leaders. It said that the companies including Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft will be considered “legitimate targets” and advised their employees to “move away from their workplaces to save their lives”. While 16 companies are American, two are based out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a statement via Iran’s Tasnim News Agency saying, “You ignored our repeated warnings about the need to stop terrorist operations, and today, in the terrorist attacks you and your Israeli allies, a number of Iranian citizens were martyred; since the main element in the design and tracking of assassination targets are the American ICT and AI companies, in response to these terrorist operations, the main institutions will be our legitimate targets.”
It went on to name the following technology companies as “legitimate targets: Cisco, HP, Intel, Oracle, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Meta, IBM, Dell, NVIDIA, Palantir, Tesla, and GE. It also named banking and financial services major JP Morgan, as well as aerospace company Boeing in its list of targets. And it isn’t just American companies. The IRGC has also named the UAE headquartered G42, which is a major player in the Middle East’s digital infrastructure industry and is currently building the 5GW Stargate UAE campus in Abu Dhabi, as well as Spire Solutions, a Dubai-based cyber security company, as targets.
Warning employees of these tech companies about the threat to their lives, it said, “We advise the employees of these institutions to immediately move away from their workplaces to save their lives. Residents around these terrorist companies in all countries of the region also leave their place within a radius of one kilometer and go to a safe place.”
Some of the above companies have operations in Israel, or allegedly have links to Israeli military or defence firms. Iran says their technology is being used by Israel for military applications targeting Iran. The IRGC said, “Companies that are active in terrorist plots will be targeted by counteracts against every assassination.”
While most of the companies named are yet to issue any formal statement of response, an Intel spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC, “The safety and wellbeing of our team is our number one priority. We are taking steps to safeguard and support our workers and facilities in the Middle East and are actively monitoring the situation.”
Meanwhile, U.S President Donald Trump addressed the nation, and said that the objectives of the war against Iran was “nearing completion”, and attempted to allay fears surrounding the energy crisis saying, “America has plenty of gas.”
“As I stated in my announcement of Operation Epic Fury, our objectives are very simple and clear. We are systematically dismantling the regime’s ability to threaten America or reject power outside of their borders,” said Trump. “And tonight, I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion.”
He further said, “Remember, because of our drill baby drill program, America has plenty of gas. We have so much gas. Under my leadership, we are the No. 1 producer of oil and gas on the planet, without even discussing the millions of barrels that we’re getting from Venezuela.”
As of publishing this story the US-Israel-Iran war has entered day 33, and the death toll stands at over 2,000 Iranians, and at least 13 US military personnel. Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports of a fire at another facility owned by an American digital infrastructure company in Bahrain, though the company in question has not confirmed this. Strikes have also been reported from Kuwait. We will publish updates and more details as soon as we are able to independently confirm the news.