Iran's Infrastructure Communications Company head, Behzad Akbari, stated that "one of the largest and most complex cyberattacks against the country's infrastructure was identified and preventive measures were taken." However, he did not provide further details about the attack.
This incident coincides with the third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S., mediated by Oman, and a powerful explosion at Iran’s largest container port, Bandar Abbas. The exact cause of the explosion is still unclear, but it is suspected that chemicals stored at the port may have triggered the blast. Iran's Ministry of Defense has denied international media reports that the explosion could be linked to mishandling solid fuel used in missiles.
Iran has previously accused its primary rival, Israel, of being behind cyberattacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that Iran's nuclear infrastructure should not only be prevented from developing nuclear weapons but must be entirely dismantled.
It is important to note that in 2021, a major cyberattack targeted Iran's fuel stations, and Tehran alleged that Israel was behind it. In 2023, a similar but larger attack disrupted about 70% of the country’s fuel stations. The group "Predatory Sparrow" claimed responsibility for this attack, calling it retaliation for "Iran's aggression and that of its proxies in the region."
