Iran has escalated its accusations against the United States and Israel, alleging their ongoing military campaign has destroyed nearly 10,000 non-military sites in a stark contradiction to their stated objective of ‘liberating’ the Iranian populace. The conflict, now in its twelfth day, has taken a dangerous new turn as Tehran issued expanded warnings, identifying major U.S. technology corporations with Israeli affiliations as potential legitimate targets for retaliation.
According to an Al Jazeera report, the Iranian military command, through its Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, explicitly named firms including Google, Microsoft, Palantir, IBM, Nvidia, and Oracle. The warning extends to cloud service infrastructures located in Israeli cities and several Gulf nations. This cyber-front expansion follows an alleged attack on an Iranian financial institution, which Tehran claims resulted in civilian casualties. In response, Iranian authorities threatened to target U.S. and Israeli economic and banking centers within the region, issuing unprecedented public safety advisories for individuals to avoid proximity to such facilities.
The humanitarian and environmental crisis within Iran is intensifying. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed grave concern over public health hazards stemming from damaged petroleum facilities. Reports of toxic ‘black rain’ in Tehran have prompted warnings from the Iranian Red Crescent Society, which described recent precipitation as potentially ‘highly dangerous and acidic,’ advising the capital’s 10 million residents to remain indoors.
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation are underway. China’s special envoy for Middle Eastern affairs, Zhai Jun, met with UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE emphasized it is not a party to the conflict and should not be targeted, while appreciating China’s neutral stance and role in diplomatic shuttle efforts. Zhai reiterated China’s position that the sovereignty of all Gulf nations must be respected, attacks on civilians condemned, and that a ceasefire is the only viable path forward.
Meanwhile, regional violence continues unabated. The UAE’s defense systems engaged incoming missiles and drones, with Dubai residents receiving emergency alerts to seek shelter. Israeli strikes extended across Lebanon, including a hit on a residential building in central Beirut. Maritime security agencies reported attacks on commercial vessels near Dubai and in the critical Strait of Hormuz, signaling a further expansion of the conflict’s geographic and economic impact.