Iran warns of strikes on Gulf oil and data sites if US, Israel attack
- Iran has warned that it will strike oil facilities, undersea internet cables, datacentres, and artificial intelligence installations across as many as seven Gulf countries if the United States...
- The warning follows rising diplomatic friction and increased military posturing across the Middle East.
- Iranian officials have framed any upcoming military action as an existential threat.
Iran has warned that it will strike oil facilities, undersea internet cables, datacentres, and artificial intelligence installations across as many as seven Gulf countries if the United States and Israel launch a renewed military campaign against the country. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, outlined the retaliatory targets as regional tensions mount ahead of a potential escalation, The Guardian reported.
The warning follows rising diplomatic friction and increased military posturing across the Middle East. US military advisers have prepared a detailed list of potential targets for a joint assault to be implemented after the United States midterm elections on November 3, 2026.
Regional Threats and Strategic Retaliation Plans
Iranian officials have framed any upcoming military action as an existential threat. Mehdi Mohammadi, an adviser to hardline parliament speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, stated that Tehran views a potential conflict as a direct challenge to its survival. According to reporting from The Guardian, Mohammadi warned that Iran would expand the geographical scope of the war beyond enemy anticipations and eliminate traditional red lines.
There are multiple indications that Israel is already pushing for an attack as soon as possible, and that Trump almost relented several times.Reminder, this war started when Israel unilaterally attacked Iran and forced the hand of the US. It could still do it again.
Expanding on those threats, Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, political deputy to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) chief commander, stated in an interview with Al-Alam television that US and allied assets throughout the region are legitimate targets. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf separately warned regional governments on social media platform X against providing resources, equity, land, or energy to artificial intelligence and data companies linked to military aggression against Iran.
Fars News Agency reported that the IRGC has issued directives stipulating that any new widespread war involving the assassination of Iranian officials or civilian casualties will prompt responses directed at political targets rather than strictly military installations. Furthermore, the IRGC naval services claimed on October 21, 2026, to have struck multiple commercial oil-transfer ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, though independent verification of those vessel strikes remains unavailable.
Diplomatic Mediation and International Responses
As military preparations accelerate, diplomatic channels remain active. Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran. The Express Tribune reported that Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, traveled to Tehran on October 20, 2026, to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf to explore ceasefire options and discuss regional developments.
Economic Consequences and Infrastructure Vulnerabilities
Financial markets have already reacted sharply to the growing threat of conflict. Brent crude oil traded at $113.40 a barrel, reaching a recent high amid reports of an imminent joint strike. Shipping disruptions have also affected the region; containers and debris have drifted in Gulf waters following incidents such as the October 14, 2026, sinking of the Singapore-flagged GFS Pride near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman.
International business leaders have raised concerns over the long-term viability of Gulf logistics. HSBC Group Chief Executive Georges Elhedery noted that heavy reliance on the Strait of Hormuz—through which a significant portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passes—could push investments toward alternative routes, potentially rendering the strategic waterway redundant within five years.
International lawyer Reza Nasri warned that a third wave of warfare would devastate regional infrastructure, leaving tens of millions of people across Arab countries without water or electricity while triggering a massive refugee movement toward Europe. Nasri emphasized that a prolonged war of attrition would severely strain Israel’s economy and trap the United States in a protracted regional crisis.