Iran threatens strikes on US tech companies in Middle East, including Microsoft and Boeing

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is threatening potential attacks on major U.S. technology companies operating in the Middle East, warning strikes could begin within hours.

In a message posted to Telegram, the IRGC said 18 companies, including Microsoft and Boeing, could be considered “legitimate targets” in retaliation for recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran. Other companies named include Apple and Google.

Other companies listed include Cisco, HP, Intel, Oracle, Meta, IBM, Dell, Planter, Nvidia, JPMorgan, Tesla, GE, Spire Solutions, and G42. Amazon and AWS (Amazon Web Services) were not included on the IRGC’s list.

The group warned that attacks could begin as early as 9:30 a.m. PST, urging employees to leave their workplaces immediately to protect their lives.

“From now on, for every assassination, an American company will be destroyed,” the group said in the statement.

The threat has heightened concerns in the Seattle area, where several of the named companies are headquartered or maintain large workforces. Many employees have ties to the Middle East, with some frequently traveling to the region for business.

Iran drone strikes cause outages

The warning followed recent Iranian drone strikes targeting cloud infrastructure linked to Amazon Web Services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which caused outages across apps and digital services.

U.S. tech firms have invested heavily in the Middle East in recent years, particularly in artificial intelligence infrastructure, drawn by lower energy costs and available land. Microsoft alone announced a multibillion-dollar investment in the UAE last year.

Companies have begun responding cautiously. An Intel spokesperson said the company is taking steps to safeguard workers and facilities in the region and is actively monitoring the situation. Microsoft and Boeing have not publicly commented.

The developments come amid a broader regional conflict that has intensified since late February, with thousands of drones and missiles launched across parts of the Middle East.

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