OpenAI Under Pressure: Iran Threatens Stargate Center in Abu Dhabi

Iran Threatens OpenAI's Stargate Data Center in Abu Dhabi

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC) recently released a video threatening OpenAI's Stargate data center in Abu Dhabi. This threat follows warnings from the United States regarding potential attacks on Iranian power plants. The video, shared on April 3 on the X account of an Iranian state media outlet, promises the "total and complete annihilation" of American energy and technology companies in the region. An image of the construction site of OpenAI's Stargate center, valued at $30 billion, is also shown.

A Colossal Project Under Pressure

OpenAI's Stargate project represents a colossal investment of $500 billion, with significant contributions from giants like Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, and SoftBank. However, the progress of the Abu Dhabi data center remains uncertain. An update from October 2025 indicated that construction was well underway, aiming for a deployment of 200 megawatts by 2026, with a total computing power capacity of 16 gigawatts. OpenAI has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding this situation.

Confusion and Political Tensions

The IRGC video also includes satellite images of the OpenAI site in the United Arab Emirates, as well as a photo of the leaders supporting the project. A notable error identifies Jeetu Patel, Cisco's product chief, as Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has escalated tensions by threatening Iran on Truth Social, stating that Tuesday would be "the day of power plants and bridges" if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. He also claimed to ABC News that the United States could "blow up the whole country" in the absence of an agreement. In response, the Iranian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its determination to defend the country's national security and sovereignty.