Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has put a bullseye on some of the biggest names in American business, and Elon Musk’s sprawling empire is near the top of the list.
On March 31, the IRGC identified 18 US companies, including Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft, as potential targets for retaliation amid escalating tensions in the region. The corps accused these firms of facilitating US and Israeli actions it characterized as “terrorist operations,” and set an ultimatum: possible actions against their regional facilities by 8 p.m. Tehran time on April 1.
Starlink in the crosshairs
Among the Musk-linked assets drawing Iran’s attention, Starlink stands out. Iranian state media labeled the satellite internet service a “legitimate target” due to its operations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE.
The IRGC’s warning came with a chilling escalation formula. “For every assassination in Iran, a US company will be destroyed,” the corps stated, tying its threat list directly to what it views as covert operations on Iranian soil.
