Iran’s nuclear facilities and nearly all three govt branches have been hit by heavy cyberattacks, the Iran International confirmed. Iran experienced significant cyberattacks on Saturday that disrupted almost all branches of its government while also targeting its nuclear facilities.
The Iran International, citing Firouzabadi an ex-secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace reported that “every branch of Iran’s government—the judiciary, legislature, and executive—has been affected by these cyberattacks, resulting in the theft of their information.”
“Our nuclear facilities, along with crucial networks such as fuel distribution, municipal services, transportation, and ports, have also come under attack. These incidents represent just a portion of the numerous sectors targeted across the country.”
Israel’s warning
The attack comes on the back of Israel’s stern warning to Iran. Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant assured that their response to Iran’s missile barrage will be lethal and surprising. Since last years Hamas attacks on Israel, the Jewish nation has left no stone unturned in its retaliatory response towards its adversaries.
After targeting Hamas and wiping out the militant outfits assets in the region, Israel turned its attention to the terrorist unit of Hezbollah, taking out its head Hasan Nasrallah in the process. On October 1, 2024, Israel began its incursions into Lebanon with the aim to wipe out Hezbollah. This led to Iran launching a missile barrage to deter Israel’s charge.
Israel has since then, held security meets to decide on their response to Iran’s aggressions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden held their first call in seven weeks, with a White House press secretary saying that the call included discussions on Israel’s deliberations over how it will respond to Iran’s attack.
Iran’s potential nuclear test
Between 2010 and 2020, five Iranian nuclear scientists (Masoud Ali-Mohammadi, Majid Shahriari, Darioush Rezaeinejad, Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, and Mohsen Fakhrizadeh) were killed in foreign-linked assassinations. The Iranian government had accused Israel of being complicit in the killings, in order to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program
So far Iran officially does not possess nuclear weapons, yet it has an extensive nuclear programme with its facilities spread out across the country. The country has deep underground bunker facilities that can be used to develop nuclear weapons in the future. Iran’s nuclear programme has been a huge point of concern for the west and especially Israel, as the two countries have been at loggerheads for decades. Israel has been readying its response to deter Iran from the proliferation of nuclear weaponry.
Since the Hamas-Israel war began, tensions in the region have sky rocketed. With Iran’s recent missile barrage on Israel, the proxy war between the two countries may turn into an all out, hot war. A successful nuclear test may provide Iran with a great deterrent, almost assuring it of its defensive security. This cyber attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities seems to be another preemptive strike to dent Iran’s nuclear programme.