IRGC Threatens 18 US Firms as Middle East Conflict Deepens
The companies named in the warning include Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, HP, Intel, IBM, Cisco, Tesla, Nvidia, Oracle, JPMorgan, and Boeing.
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Image Credit- Diksha Mishra/ MIT Sloan Management Review Middle East
As the Middle East conflict continues without signs of easing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has escalated its threats, warning that major American companies functioning in the area could face direct retaliation if the killings of Iranian figures—referred to by the IRGC as “targeted assassinations”—continue, according to AFP.
The 18 companies—including Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, HP, Intel, IBM, Cisco, Tesla, Nvidia, Oracle, JPMorgan, and Boeing—have been issued warnings by the IRGC for allegedly serving as espionage-linked entities for the United States.
“These companies, starting from 8:00 pm (1630 GMT) Tehran time on Wednesday, April 1, should expect the destruction of their relevant units in exchange for every assassination in Iran,” the Guards said.
“We advise the employees of these institutions to immediately leave their workplaces to preserve their lives,” they added.
Offices and assets associated with the said firms across the region are under threat.
The IRGC has claimed that these firms’ AI and ICT capabilities have played a pivotal role in tracking targets and enabling operations involving the US and Israel within Iran, reported Press TV.
Firms Under Threat
After more than 30 days of the conflict, American corporations, especially tech companies, have inadvertently become direct targets for Iranian forces. Earlier in the conflict, AWS confirmed that its data centers—two in the UAE and one in Bahrain—were attacked, resulting in regional service disruptions.
The geopolitical tensions have also impacted businesses and the economy, with global banks, consulting firms, and other multinational companies shutting offices and opting for remote work across parts of West Asia.
Consumer goods giant Unilever, in an internal memo, disclosed that “macroeconomic and geopolitical realities, especially in the Middle East conflict… can bring some significant challenges for the coming few months.”
The company has put hiring across all levels on hold for at least three months.
