US Covert Cyber Attack Against Iran in Response to Aramco Strike

Reports have emerged of a covert cyber attack by the United States against Iran. According to reports, this attack was carried out in response to the assault on Saudi Aramco oil facilities. The US and Saudi Arabia hold Iran responsible for these attacks.

Two informed American sources who requested anonymity have revealed the news of their country’s cyber attack on Iran to the media.

Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday, October 16 (Mehr 24), citing these two informed sources from Washington, about the US cyber attack against Iran.

According to reports, this cyber attack took place in the final days of September and in response to the attacks on September 14 against Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities.

The stated objective of this cyber attack was to damage Iran’s “propaganda” capabilities. One of the two officials who disclosed the cyber attack said that as a result of this attack, some of Iran’s hardware systems were damaged. This official provided no further clarification about this hardware damage.

According to reports, after the September 14 attacks on Aramco, the US sought to counter the Islamic Republic of Iran without direct military engagement with Iranian forces.

Attack on Iran’s Propaganda Tools

According to Reuters, the recent cyber attack is more limited in scope than similar previous cyber attacks carried out by the US against Iran. For example, the US cyber attack following the downing of its drone in June, as well as the attacks by the Guard on oil tankers near Fujairah port in May, were reported to be more extensive than the recent cyber attack.

The US, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France, and Germany hold Iran responsible for the attack on Saudi Aramco’s oil facilities. This is despite Iran denying any involvement in these attacks. It is worth noting that Houthi rebels have formally claimed responsibility for the attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities.

The US Department of Defense has refrained from commenting on the country’s recent cyber attack against Iran.

Alissa Smith, Pentagon spokesperson, said the department does not provide information about cyber activities and attacks for security reasons.

James Loewis, a cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told Reuters: “Using cyber attacks, you can damage the other side without killing people or causing explosions.” The expert further stated that resorting to conventional military methods would likely not be able to change the behavior of Iran’s government.

Reports indicate that within a 30-day period between August and September, a group that Microsoft refers to as the “Phosphorus” group identified 2,700 user accounts in Iran and targeted 241 accounts.

The same report accuses Iran of spreading false news and misinformation. Last year, investigations conducted by Reuters showed that Iran had launched 70 websites to promote its propaganda in 15 countries worldwide.

Similar efforts to find suspicious user accounts on social networks launched by Iran have also begun.

Source: DW