Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has escalated tensions by warning major American technology companies to withdraw staff from their Middle Eastern operations. According to reports, employees from 18 firms, including Apple, Google, Meta and NVIDIA, were urged to leave their workplaces immediately to avoid potential harm. Residents living near these facilities were also told to evacuate without delay.

The list of companies named extends beyond consumer tech giants. It also includes Microsoft, Oracle, Tesla, HP, Intel, Palantir, Boeing, Dell, Cisco and IBM. The warning signals a broader targeting of organisations linked to US technology and infrastructure in the region.

In an official statement, the IRGC claimed that American information and communications technology firms, along with artificial intelligence companies, play a central role in identifying and tracking targets. It stated that such entities would now be considered legitimate objectives in response to what it described as hostile actions. The group added that operations could begin as early as Wednesday evening if further Iranian leadership figures are killed.

This is not the first time Iran has issued threats against organisations connected to the US and Israel. However, the latest message stands out for including a clear timeframe. Earlier in the month, drone strikes attributed to Iran hit Amazon data centres in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, causing disruptions to Amazon Web Services across the region.

Reports also indicate that artificial intelligence has played a role in the ongoing conflict. The United States is said to have used technology from Anthropic during its initial air operations against Iran in late February. Meanwhile, Israel has reportedly deployed a new AI-driven system to monitor and track the movements of Iranian officials, highlighting the growing influence of advanced technologies in modern warfare.