Some international banks in the Middle East have closed branches and evacuated offices after a warning from Iran. Iran said that banks and economic centres linked to the United States and Israel could become targets.
The warning came from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which is the country’s joint military command. It advised civilians not to stay within one kilometre of banks in the region.
The Iran–Israel conflict is a major geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. The two countries have been rivals for many years because of political, military, and ideological differences.
Why the Conflict Started
Iran and Israel have been enemies for decades. Israel sees Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence as a security threat, while Iran opposes Israel’s policies in the Middle East.
Military Attacks
The conflict escalated when Israel and its allies launched strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and other locations in the region.
Regional Impact
The war has affected several Middle East countries, including Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. Armed groups allied with Iran have also been involved in attacks on Israeli targets.
Global Effects
The conflict has raised global concerns because it could disrupt oil supply routes and increase instability in the Middle East. Oil prices and global markets may be affected if the war expands.
Experts warn that continued escalation could lead to a wider regional conflict involving multiple countries and international powers.
The statement suggested that financial institutions connected to the US and Israel could be targeted as tensions rise in West Asia.
After the warning, several global banks took precautionary steps in Gulf countries.
Reports say that Citigroup and Standard Chartered evacuated some staff from their offices in Dubai. They also asked employees to work from home. HSBC temporarily closed some branches in Qatar as a safety measure.
Some other companies and financial institutions in the region also advised their staff to work remotely or avoid travel until the security situation becomes clear.
Iran issued the warning after reports that an administrative building linked to Bank Sepah, one of Iran’s largest state-owned banks, was hit overnight in Tehran.
Iranian officials blamed the United States and Israel for the attack. They said the incident could force Iran to consider retaliation against financial and economic infrastructure linked to its rivals.
Bank Sepah has long been associated with Iran’s military. The bank has been under US and UN sanctions for nearly two decades due to alleged links with Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes.
Banks in Gulf cities are usually located in busy commercial areas. These areas are surrounded by shopping malls, office towers, hotels and residential buildings.
Because of this, the warning asking civilians to stay one kilometre away from banks could affect large parts of major financial hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Bahrain, where many international banks operate.
