Iran has escalated its warnings against the United States, pledging to launch retaliatory strikes on American energy and technology infrastructure across the Middle East. This threat comes in direct response to US plans to target Iranian civilian assets, including power plants and water desalination facilities. The Iranian military delivered this message through a video released late last week, which gained widespread circulation on Sunday. In the footage, spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari articulates the country’s position, emphasizing that no target will remain concealed from their view.
The video prominently features a globe that zooms in on the Stargate data center located in the United Arab Emirates. Accompanying this visual is the statement: “nothing stays hidden to our sight, though hidden by Google.” Stargate represents a $500 billion collaborative effort between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, announced in January 2025. This initiative aims to construct advanced AI data centers but has faced significant hurdles from the outset, including reported funding difficulties and increased costs due to tariffs. Despite these challenges, the project has pursued international expansion with new facilities.
This latest provocation follows a stark ultimatum from US President Trump, who has threatened to strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure by the end of Tuesday if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This critical global shipping channel has been obstructed since the war began in February, severely disrupting global supply-chain traffic. The ongoing conflict has already resulted in missile attacks on several data centers in the region, demonstrating the tangible risks to technological assets.
Iranian forces have previously targeted key technology infrastructure, striking Amazon Web Services data centers in Bahrain and an Oracle data center in Dubai. Additionally, last week, Iran explicitly threatened other major tech firms, including Nvidia and Apple, by name. These actions underscore a broader strategy of leveraging cyber and physical attacks against Western technological interests as part of the geopolitical standoff.
The targeting of Stargate highlights the escalating stakes in the conflict, where AI and data infrastructure are becoming focal points in military and economic warfare. As tensions mount over the Strait of Hormuz, the potential for further disruptions to global tech operations remains high, with data centers and corporate assets at increased risk of attack.
