Iran suffers another cyber attack three days before the end of the arms embargo

The cyber-attacks on Iranian nuclear and administrative facilities are continuing. Last Tuesday the country reported a major cyber attack on several of its government institutions. The Iranian government did not wish to accuse a specific party or country, but showed its manifest displeasure after the nuclear explosion last July following another cyber attack.

The Maher Centre for Electronic Incident Coordination and Assistance, affiliated to Iran's Ministry of Communications and Technology, confirmed that the large-scale attack targeted two government institutions.

As a result, the attack resulted in the disruption of communication with the networks and services of several of the government's administration agencies.

"Iran has recently managed to repel and thwart most of the cyber attacks to which it has been subjected," government sources explained in a statement. 

They also emphasised that "the USA and Israel have always supported these attacks under the pretext of causing sabotage in the Iranian institutions".

And more so now when the arms embargo is about to be lifted according to the nuclear agreement of 2015.

This Wednesday, the President of Iran, Hassan Rohani, stressed that his country will be able to buy and sell weapons from this Sunday, the date on which the embargo expires. 

"Next Sunday we will announce the good news that the ten years of cruel arms embargo are over", he said.

The Maher centre said that some government agencies, after receiving warnings, took the initiative to temporarily cut off some services and carry out technical tests as a precautionary measure. 

Officials said government officials had received advance warnings that the attack might occur.

They have not yet revealed the origin of the attack or the extent of the damage caused by it. The statements were made to confirm the information that was being published by various media about the cessation of activities in ministries and institutions.  

The attack led to the disruption of the networks and systems of several ports and the interruption of the banking system. 

Last February, Iran suffered a cyber attack that led to the temporary closure of the internet network throughout the country. This attack is defined as the "biggest in its history".  

Also in July, the country witnessed a massive explosion at its Natanz nuclear facility, which is believed to have been caused by a cyber attack or an internal boycott.

The sabotage suffered in early July at the Natanz facility remains a mystery. No country has yet been held responsible, although those responsible have been identified. 

"As far as we know, they have identified the culprits and know their incentives and methods", said Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the OASI.

At the time the authorities claimed that only superficial damage had occurred, as there was no nuclear material at the site of the explosion. 

However, shortly afterwards some of its officials warned of "cyber sabotage" that was causing "considerable damage", as Kamalvandi confirmed at the end of August.

The site of the explosion is in the centre of the country, some 200 km from Teheran, and is one of the Iranian government's most important uranium enrichment plants. 

The United States and Israel have stated on several occasions that these facilities pose a threat to compliance with the nuclear pact.