NewsHero (beta) - US Says Cyberattack Carried Out On Iran
October 19, 2019 Issue 2
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US Says Cyberattack Carried Out On Iran
Following strike on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, US claims secret cyber operation
Illustrative: A cybersecurity expert stands in front of a map of Iran as he speaks to journalists about the techniques of Iranian hacking, September 20, 2017, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The United States reportedly hit Iran with a secret cyber operation following the September 14 attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters the operation was carried out in late September and aimed to cut Tehran’s ability to spread “propaganda.” The strike reportedly targeted physical hardware, but no further details were given.
When asked about the cyberattack reports, Iran’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi said, “They must have dreamt it.”
The U.S., Saudi Arabia, Britain, France, and Germany have blamed Iran for the September 14 strike, which denied any involvement. The Houthi militant group in Yemen claimed responsibility.
The Pentagon declined to comment about the cyberattack. “As a matter of policy and for operational security, we do not discuss cyberspace operations, intelligence, or planning,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Elissa Smith.
