Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Iran has escalated its threats towards AI data centers, particularly targeting the ‘Stargate’ project. This comes in response to perceived aggression from the United States, including threats to strike Iranian civilian infrastructure.
Iran's military spokesperson, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, stated in a widely circulated video that if the U.S. proceeds with its threats to attack Iran’s civilian facilities, including power and water infrastructure, Iran would retaliate by targeting U.S. energy and technology infrastructures in the region. The video displayed a globe that zoomed in on the Stargate data center located in the United Arab Emirates, underlining the message that “nothing stays hidden to our sight, though hidden by Google.”
The Stargate project represents a significant investment, being a $500 billion joint venture between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, aimed at establishing AI data centers internationally. Announced in January 2025, the initiative faced initial funding challenges and issues related to tariffs, but aimed for global expansion to bolster its operations.
This latest threat comes in direct response to U.S. President Trump’s declaration that he may target Iran’s civilian infrastructure, such as power plants and water desalination facilities, if Iran does not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This shipping channel has been pivotal for global trade and has faced disruptions since the outbreak of conflict in February.
The situation has already led to missile strikes on several data centers in the region, with Iranian missiles reportedly hitting Amazon Web Services (AWS) facilities in Bahrain and an Oracle data center in Dubai. Additionally, Iran has issued threats against major technology companies, naming Nvidia and Apple in its recent statements.
The ongoing conflict and deteriorating relations between Iran and the U.S. have raised significant concerns regarding the security of technological infrastructures in the Middle East. With both sides engaging in aggressive rhetoric and military posturing, the potential for further escalation remains high as the situation develops.
Source: TechCrunch News