UN nuclear inspectors arrive in Tehran, Iran says

"One of the most widespread and complex cyber attacks against the country's infrastructure was identified and preventive measures were taken," IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News quoted Behzad Akbari, CEO of Iran’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Company and Deputy ICT Minister as saying on Monday.

Akbari did not provide further details on the origins of the hack.

Only in September, Iran's Cybersecurity Strategic Management Center announced a state of cyber-readiness, issuing a red alert for financial, monetary, and communication sectors, and an orange alert for other sectors, according to Iranian media reports.

"Organizations are advised to maintain round-the-clock availability of technical teams and rapid response units due to the potential for cyber attacks," it said.

In the past Iran has blamed Israel for cyber attacks. A cyberattack that 70% of Iran's petrol stations in December 2023 was claimed by Gonjeshk-e-Darande or Predatory Sparrow, a hacking group that Iran has previously accused of having links to Israel.

In October 2021, Iran experienced a cyberattack that disrupted its fuel distribution system, affecting approximately 4,300 gas stations. Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran’s civil defense organization, attributed the attack to foreign actors, specifically accusing the United States and Israel.

The cyberattack came just one day after Tehran and Washington concluded a third round of nuclear talks on Saturday in Oman.

Meanwhile, emergency services were fighting the fallout of a deadly explosion in Iran’s Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas, with authorities yet to disclose the cause.

Emergency support was sent from Tehran's allies in Moscow to fight the disaster which saw at least 40 killed and hundreds more injured, according to Iran's official figures.

However, one worker at the port contacted Iran International saying that at least 23 women were killed in their office alone.

Iran’s foreign minister accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to dictate both Iranian and US policy, warning that any military action against Iran would be immediately reciprocated.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized Netanyahu in a post on X, saying Israel’s belief that it can control Iran’s actions was detached from reality. “Israel’s fantasy that it can dictate what Iran may or may not do is so detached from reality that it hardly merits a response.”

Araghchi wrote, "What is striking, however, is how brazenly Netanyahu is now dictating what President Trump can and cannot do in his diplomacy with Iran."

The top diplomat also took aim at US officials from President Joe Biden’s administration, describing them as "Netanyahu’s allies" and accusing them of falsely portraying current negotiations as a revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"Iran is strong and confident enough in its capabilities to thwart any attempt by malicious external actors to sabotage its foreign policy," Araghchi said, adding that a large segment of the Iranian public no longer views the JCPOA as sufficient and is seeking tangible dividends.

"There is no military option, and certainly no military solution. Any strike will be immediately reciprocated," he warned.

US President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Sunday about reaching a deal with Iran, suggesting a diplomatic resolution was likely and preferable to military action.

"On the Iran situation I think we're doing very well. I think a deal is going to be made there. That's going to happen. Pretty sure it's going to happen. We'll have something without having to start dropping bombs all over the place," Trump told reporters.

Efforts to extinguish the fire at Rajaei port are expected to conclude Monday afternoon, Red Crescent rescue chief Babak Mahmoudi said.
“Over 90 percent of the blaze has been contained, and crews are working to clean up hotspots,” he added.

Russian firefighting planes arrived in Bandar Abbas Sunday night, but Mahmoudi said they would likely not be needed. Despite official statements, live footage from Iranian state broadcaster IRIB showed fires still burning at the port.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held a telephone conversation with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, to brief him on the latest developments in the negotiations between Iran and the United States, Iranian media reported on Monday.