TEHRAN — Iran has warned that economic and banking interests linked to the United States and Israel across the Middle East could become targets, marking a new phase in the rapidly escalating regional conflict. Iranian military officials said the decision comes after what Tehran described as an airstrike on an Iranian financial institution in the capital.
According to statements carried by Iranian state media, the warning was issued by Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the joint command coordinating Iran’s armed forces. Officials accused the U.S. and Israel of attacking a bank in northern Tehran and called the strike an “illegitimate act of war.”
Iranian commanders said the incident expands the scope of potential retaliation beyond military sites to include financial and economic infrastructure tied to Washington and Tel Aviv.
Iranian military spokespeople warned that banks, economic centers, and financial institutions associated with the U.S. and Israel throughout the region could now be considered legitimate targets. In an unusual public safety advisory, authorities urged civilians to stay at least one kilometer away from such facilities, suggesting possible strikes against financial infrastructure.
The declaration reflects the widening scope of the ongoing war between Iran and the U.S.–Israel alliance. Since the conflict erupted in late February after large-scale airstrikes on Iranian military and government facilities, both sides have launched missile, drone, and naval attacks across multiple countries in the region.
Iran has already launched strikes targeting U.S. military bases and strategic sites in several Gulf states while threatening shipping and energy infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes. The confrontation has severely disrupted maritime traffic and contributed to rising global oil prices.
Analysts warn that targeting banks and financial institutions would represent a significant escalation in modern warfare, potentially destabilizing regional economies and international financial networks. Major commercial centers in Gulf countries host numerous international banks and multinational corporations, making them highly sensitive targets.
Governments across the Middle East have increased security around financial districts and energy infrastructure as concerns grow those economic targets could become part of the conflict’s next phase.
The threat to economic and banking infrastructure signals that the confrontation is evolving beyond conventional military exchanges into a broader economic and strategic battlefield. With both sides continuing strikes and retaliation across the region, diplomats warn that the risk of wider regional destabilization remains high.