Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a direct threat to multiple US-owned companies with operations in the Middle East on Tuesday. The warning, published by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, listed 18 companies, including Meta, Tesla, Boeing, JP Morgan, and Microsoft, as potential targets for retaliation.
The statement advised employees of these companies to avoid their workplaces and surrounding areas within a one-kilometer radius. The IRGC set an 8 p.m. deadline in Iran on Wednesday for potential action, though the severity of the threat remains unclear.
Escalating Tensions Between US and Iran
The threat comes amid heightened tensions following joint US-Israel military operations against Iran, which began on February 28. While both sides have signaled efforts to de-escalate, retaliatory strikes have continued throughout March.
The US State Department has urged American citizens to reconsider travel to several Middle Eastern countries, citing the threat of armed conflict and terrorism.
Major US corporations, including Dell, Cisco, Intel, and HP, did not respond to requests for comment. JP Morgan and Microsoft also declined to address the IRGC's warning. This is not the first time the IRGC has issued such threats; it previously targeted US-owned infrastructure in Israel.
The situation underscores the risks facing American companies operating in volatile regions, as geopolitical tensions increasingly endanger both business interests and worker safety.