Iran’s ultimatum against Big Tech expires without attacks and tension grows

The deadline set by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for 18 US corporations to abandon their facilities in the Middle East expired at 1:30 pm (Brasília time) this Wednesday (1st). Although there are no records of completed attacks so far, the state of alert in the region remains maximum, with the latent possibility of actions against the economic interests of Washington and Tel Aviv.

The measure is a direct response to the escalation of aggression by the United States and Israel against Iranian sovereignty. Last Tuesday (31), Tehran classified giants such as Microsoft, Google, Apple, Tesla and Boeing as “legitimate targets”, accusing them of collaborating with intelligence and tracking operations used in attacks against Iran.

As of this afternoon, none of the technology companies have publicly confirmed the evacuation of their headquarters in capitals such as Riyadh or Abu Dhabi. However, international security experts warn that the expiration of the deadline does not mean the end of the threat; Tehran’s strategy often uses uncertainty and psychological warfare to destabilize the foreign presence in the Gulf.

Preventive withdrawal of financial capital

Western financial capital has already begun a strategic withdrawal movement in the region’s nerve centers. Banks began closing branches in mid-March, reacting to previous threats that are now taking on more serious aspects.

Citigroup (Citi) has completed the full withdrawal of its offices in the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and Oud Metha. Most branches in the United Arab Emirates remain closed, with the exception of one branch in the Mall of the Emirates. The bank maintains remote work guidelines to avoid risks to its technical staff.

HSBC has suspended operations entirely in Qatar. All branches, including the three main agencies in Doha, are closed “until further notice”. The bank justified the measure by the need to guarantee the safety of employees and assets.

The institution Standard Chartered followed the closure movement and reported the emptying of its offices in Dubai amid the worsening of the regional scenario.

The retreat of these institutions reveals the fragility of the current situation. While the White House claims to be prepared to “thwart any action”, the emptying of the financial centers of Dubai and Qatar demonstrates that the market is already pricing in the effectiveness of Tehran’s resistance.