Iran warns Nvidia and others are targets… says they played a US 'spy' role

Iran has issued a public warning that it will target 18 US technology and financial companies in the Middle East. It claimed these companies acted as “spies” by helping the US government carry out attacks. Iran demanded that employees of the companies and nearby residents evacuate immediately.

According to CBS and other US media on the 31st (local time), Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a Telegram post that it will begin targeting 18 US technology and financial firms in the Middle East starting on the 1st.

The IRGC alleged that the companies played a spying role and assisted the US government’s attacks on Iran. It also said the US ignored Iran’s repeated warnings to halt “terror operations.” The IRGC further accused the US and Israel of carrying out “terror attacks” that resulted in Iranian civilian casualties that day.

The IRGC in particular claimed that US information and communications technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) companies played a key role as the US military planned and tracked attacks. It warned that “major institutions that materially influence terror operations will from now on become our legitimate targets.”

Addressing employees of the companies and institutions, the IRGC said, “Leave your workplace immediately if you want to save your life.” It also urged residents living within 1 km of these companies to evacuate to a safe place.

Most of the firms cited are US Big Tech companies, including Microsoft (MS), Apple, Google, Meta, IBM and Cisco. JP Morgan was mentioned as the financial firm, while Tesla led by Elon Musk, defense contractor Boeing, and semiconductor company Nvidia were also named.

The IRGC delivered a similar warning in early March, saying at the time that “legitimate targets are gradually expanding.” This time, it raised the level of threat by specifying company names and a timeline.

Kim Dae-young, Hankyung.com reporter kdy@hankyung.com