Iran Escalates War, Threatens US-Israeli Banks After Bank Bombed in Tehran
Key Takeaways
- Iran threatens to strike US- and Israel-linked banks in Gulf states.
- Banks evacuate offices in Qatar and Dubai amid Iranian threats.
- Global banks tighten security across Gulf hubs after Iran's threat.
Iran Threatens Financial Retaliation
Iran threatened to strike American and Israeli banks and financial institutions across the Gulf.
“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to attack “economic centres and banks” related to United States and Israeli entities in the region after what it called an attack on an Iranian bank, with the war in its 12th day”
The threat came after US-Israeli forces bombed Bank Sepah's Old Town branch in Tehran, killing an unspecified number of employees.
Regional institutions responded by evacuating offices and shifting to remote work.
The move marks a significant escalation from military targets to economic infrastructure.
Global Banks Evacuate, Markets Rattle
The threat sparked immediate precautionary evacuations across major Gulf financial hubs.
Citigroup told staff in Dubai to stay away from offices, and three buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
The disruptions added to economic fallout from the conflict.
TheBanker analyzed that liquidity had dropped more than 40% since late February.
Iran Expands Economic Targets
IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency released a list of top US companies with Israeli links as Iran’s new targets.
The companies include Google, Microsoft, Palantir, IBM, Nvidia and Oracle.
The expansion signals Iran's intent to retaliate more broadly across economic infrastructure.
US-Israeli Bombing Triggers Broader Economic Chaos
Euronews attributed the broadening economic retaliation to the US-Israeli strikes after nearly two weeks of war.
Yemen's Houthi movement responded by targeting Abu Dhabi's financial district.
A senior Iranian diplomat warned the war might continue for three to four years.
The conflict's cluster strikes on civilian infrastructure have shattered regional economic confidence.
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