Iran has threatened to target major US technology firms, including Apple, Google, and Meta, if further Iranian leaders are killed in what it described as “targeted assassinations.”
The warning was issued on Tuesday by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which accused the firms of playing a role in tracking and facilitating attacks on senior officials. In a strongly worded statement, the Guards said, “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 group also advised employees of the listed companies to vacate their workplaces to avoid harm, alleging that the firms had ignored repeated warnings to halt activities linked to operations against Iranian leadership.
Other companies named include Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, Tesla, Palantir Technologies, and NVIDIA.
The escalation comes amid rising tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel. US President Donald Trump has said Washington is pursuing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, while also warning of intensified joint operations with Israel.
Iranian authorities alleged that the US government and the named tech firms are central to “designing and tracking assassination targets,” vowing “reciprocal action” for any further killings.
While the statement did not specify where potential retaliatory strikes would occur, it warned residents near facilities linked to the companies across the region to evacuate within a one-kilometre radius.
The threat follows recent reports of drone attacks on infrastructure linked to US firms, including facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour, were reportedly killed at the onset of the conflict, alongside other high-ranking officials such as Ali Larijani.
While the United States and Israel have described the killings as a major strategic blow to Iran, analysts suggest the country retains the capacity to respond and adapt despite the losses.
In a related development, Iran’s military said it had launched drone strikes targeting key infrastructure in Israel, including communications and industrial facilities, though there has been no immediate confirmation from Israeli authorities.
