Several major international banks closed offices and evacuated staff in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday following threats from Iran to target financial institutions in the region.

HSBC announced the closure of all its branches in Qatar until further notice, citing safety precautions in a message sent to clients, according to Reuters. The British banking giant's decision came as part of broader security measures implemented by financial institutions operating in the Gulf region.

Citigroup and Standard Chartered also instructed employees to take precautionary measures, though specific details of their responses were not immediately available. The banks' actions reflect heightened security concerns following Iran's stated intention to launch strikes against financial targets.

The closures represent a significant disruption to banking operations in two key financial centers in the Middle East. Qatar and the UAE serve as important hubs for international banking and finance in the region, hosting numerous global financial institutions.

The threats come amid ongoing regional tensions involving Iran and highlight the vulnerability of financial infrastructure to geopolitical conflicts. Banks operating in the area are taking the warnings seriously given the potential risks to staff and operations.