Iran Confirms Internet Shutdown Was to Thwart Israeli Cyberattacks

In a move that has drawn international concern, the Iranian government has confirmed that it deliberately shut down internet access across the country earlier this week. The justification? To protect against perceived cyberattacks from Israel, according to government officials.

The initial blackout, which left virtually all of Iran without internet connectivity, sparked confusion and concern. The shutdown severely hampered Iranians’ ability to access information about the ongoing conflict with Israel and communicate with family both within and outside the country.

Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokesperson for the Iranian government, stated that the decision to restrict internet access was primarily motivated by security concerns. Citing cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and disruptions affecting banking systems, Mohajerani told local news, “We have previously stated that if necessary, we will certainly switch to a national internet and restrict global internet access. Security is our main concern.”

Mohajerani further alluded to the vulnerability of systems controlled via the internet, stating, “Many of the enemy’s drones are managed and controlled via the internet, and a large amount of information is exchanged this way. A cryptocurrency exchange was also hacked, and considering all these issues, we have decided to impose internet restrictions.” She referenced recent hacks on Bank Sepah and the Iranian cryptocurrency exchange Nobitex, for which a group calling itself Predatory Sparrow claimed responsibility.

Predatory Sparrow, known in Farsi as “Gonjeshke Darande,” is a group claiming to be pro-Israel hacktivists. The group has a history of disrupting key services in Iran, including gas stations and steel plants.

The internet shutdown has had a severe impact on everyday Iranians. Amir Rashidi, director of cybersecurity and digital rights at Miaan Group, reported that his family had to evacuate Tehran due to Israeli government warnings about targeted neighborhoods. “I haven’t heard from them in two days, but someone is supposed to update me. I hope everything is okay,” Rashidi told TechCrunch, highlighting that all forms of communication, including phone calls, have been cut off.

Nariman Gharib, an Iranian activist and cyber-espionage investigator based in the U.K., noted that only a small, tech-savvy segment of the population has been able to circumvent the restrictions using VPNs or through intermittent ADSL connections. “My friends are tech-savvy, so they can bypass the restrictions, but generally, it’s very difficult because we have a complete internet shutdown in the country,” Gharib said.

The situation remains tense, with concerns mounting over the implications of the internet shutdown on the Iranian population and the broader geopolitical landscape.