Iran Targets U.S. 'Stargate' AI Centers in Response to Strike Threats
Iran warns of retaliatory strikes on the $500B Stargate AI project and regional tech hubs as U.S. tensions reach a breaking point over the Strait of Hormuz.
Middle East Conflict Escalates as Tehran Targets AI Infrastructure
TEHRAN / WASHINGTON — The Iranian government has issued a direct warning to the United States, threatening to target high-value AI data centers across the Middle East. The escalation follows a series of air strikes and mounting diplomatic tension between the two nations.
In a video statement released late last week and circulated widely on Sunday, Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari declared that any American strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure would be met with retaliatory attacks against U.S.-linked energy and technology assets in the region.
The "Stargate" Project in the Crosshairs
The most prominent target mentioned in the Iranian military's propaganda is the Stargate data center located in the United Arab Emirates. Stargate is a massive $500 billion joint venture involving OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, which was first announced in January 2025.
The Iranian video featured a satellite view of the facility with a cryptic warning: "Nothing stays hidden to our sight, though hidden by Google."
The escalation follows a series of air strikes and mounting diplomatic tension between the two nations.
The Stargate project has faced a turbulent path to fruition, battling high costs, international tariffs, and funding hurdles before expanding its footprint into Middle Eastern hubs to support global AI demand.
A Response to Presidential Ultimatums
The threat from Tehran is a direct response to an ultimatum issued by U.S. President Trump. The President has warned that the U.S. will strike Iranian power plants and water desalination facilities by the end of Tuesday if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The critical shipping channel has been blocked since the outbreak of hostilities in February, causing significant disruptions to global supply chains and energy markets.
Regional Tech Infrastructure Under Fire
The war has already taken a physical toll on digital infrastructure in the Persian Gulf. Recent reports confirm that:
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers in Bahrain have been struck by Iranian missiles.
- An Oracle data center in Dubai sustained damage from previous strikes.
- Iranian officials specifically named companies like Nvidia and Apple as potential targets in statements issued last week.
As the Tuesday deadline approaches, the tech industry is bracing for further disruption. The targeting of data centers marks a significant shift in modern warfare, where the physical nodes of the global "AI economy" are now treated as frontline strategic targets.
