Iran court halts internet policy body’s mandate

Access to Iran’s frozen funds is the last serious sticking point in talks with the United States and is being resolved through Qatari mediation, IRGC-linked Fars News reported on Tuesday, citing a source close to the negotiations.

The dispute concerned how Tehran would gain access to the blocked assets before talks could begin, the report said.

There has been no official confirmation of the report.

Iranian hackers were behind a March cyberattack that disrupted Los Angeles’ transit system and forced parts of its network offline, Gambit Security firm said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

The Tel Aviv-based cybersecurity firm said the hackers stole at least 700 gigabytes of emails, backups and other files from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The company said it found the data after it was inadvertently exposed online and traced the server to a hacking operation previously attributed to Tehran by Israeli officials and researchers.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Iran will restore ‘full internet access’ within the next 24 hours, Iranian media reported on Tuesday, citing a communications ministry official.

The official said the gradual reopening would begin within minutes following an order by President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The reports also cited an informed source as saying some international services and messaging apps would be restored gradually in later phases.

Surging inflation and worsening economic hardship in Iran have sharply increased the cost of hygiene and medical supplies for around 45,000 people living with spinal cord injuries, the Iranian news website Khabar Online reported on Tuesday.

Citing field reports from several provinces, the outlet said essential daily items including sterile gauze, specialized wound dressings, catheters, catheter bags, syringes, lubricating gel, tissues and medication for pressure sores have seen steep price increases.

The cost of these supplies, according to the report, has at least doubled or tripled over the past two months for people requiring long-term care.

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A possible memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States would require the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds during negotiations, IRGC-linked Tasnim News reported on Tuesday, citing a source close to the negotiating team.

Iran wanted half of the amount to become accessible when the MOU is announced, with the rest transferred during a 60-day negotiation period, according to the report.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s trip to Qatar focused on how Iran could access the first $12 billion and remove obstacles to the transfer, the report said.

“The Qatar talks were generally good and helped advance the overall negotiations. At the same time, it should not be forgotten that the United States is known as an unreliable party, and Iran is therefore approaching the issues with great caution,” the source was quoted as saying.