Following the shooting down of a US drone by Iran, the US has reportedly launched cyber attacks on Iranian missile control systems and a spy network. One of the attacks was Iranian computers used to monitor launches of missiles and guided missiles. US President Donald Trump is said to have cleared the cyberattack.
The Washington Post reported that the US Department of Defense had proposed the cyber attack after the US blamed the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) for attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman in the middle of the month. The US attack on computer systems had been prepared for weeks or even months.
The paper went on to say that the attack by the cyber-command of the US armed forces paralyzed military control systems of the Revolutionary Guards in Iran, but did not lead to casualties. Trump had stopped a conventional attack on Iran scheduled for last Friday for disproportionate Iranian fatalities, which he feared were 150 fatalities, compared to the launch of an unmanned aerial vehicle.
New, „significant“ sanctions against Iran
The Washington Post reported that the US Department of Homeland Security warned industry officials and authorities on Saturday that Iran had stepped up its cyber attacks on key sectors such as the power sector. Iran has the potential to disrupt or destroy computer systems. A spokeswoman for the Department of Defense in Washington did not comment.
Meanwhile, Trump announced new heavy sanctions on Iran on Saturday. This Monday, „significant additional sanctions“ would be announced, Trump wrote on Twitter. At the same time, he promised to suspend the sanctions – as a condition he had previously mentioned that the leadership in Tehran would have to commit permanently to not build a nuclear bomb. Trump wrote that he was looking forward to the day when the sanctions would be lifted – „the sooner the better“.
„I will be her best friend“
Commenting on his offer to Tehran, Trump told reporters: „If they agree, they will have a prosperous country, they will be so happy, and I will be their best friend.“ Following his old campaign slogan, „Make America Great Again, „he added,“ We’ll call it Make Iran Great Again, does that make sense? „Make Iran Great Again,“ that’s fine with me. “
It was not clear what new sanctions should come. Trump said that the current economic sanctions have hit Iran hard and that many more will follow. „Iran is an economic mess right now, they are going through hell.“ The US would not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons.
Trump also said, looking at the Iranian leadership controlled by strict Muslim clerics, it could very quickly reach a deal. That’s up to them. „But if they behave stupid, that will never happen.“ Trump flew by helicopter to Camp David in Maryland on Saturday to discuss the Iran crisis during meetings and phone calls.
No details on sanctions
The months of tensions between Iran and the US had come to a dangerous end at the end of the week. Iran fired a reconnaissance drone on Thursday, which, according to information from Tehran injured the airspace of the country and had responded to warnings. According to US data, the unmanned aircraft flew in international airspace.
The US prepared after the launch of the drone a counterattack for Friday, which Trump stopped just ten minutes before his words. Trump defended his decision on Saturday, stressing that the military option was „always on the table until we get it resolved“.
When asked if he trusted the verdict of his security adviser, John Bolton, Trump said, „Yes, I do. I have John Bolton, of whom I would definitely say that he is a hawk, and I have other people who are on the other side of the equation. And in the end I make the decision. „Critics accuse the hardliner Bolton, Trump to want to drive into an armed conflict with Iran.
Iran: Could have shot US plane
Trump said the Iranians had targeted a manned US plane with 38 people on board on Friday without shooting it. „I think it was very wise of them not to do that. And we appreciate that they did not do it. „The Iranian Revolutionary Guards had said they could shoot a manned US reconnaissance plane of the Poseidon type on Thursday, not Friday, alongside the drone.
Iran threatened the US on Saturday with consequences if it violated the airspace of the country. Iran does not care what Trump says or what decisions he makes, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told the Iranian news agency Tasnim. „The important thing is that we do not tolerate violations of our borders and consistently respond to any danger.“
Special session of UN Security Council on Monday
The background to the tensions is the nuclear agreement unilaterally terminated by the USA in May 2018. Trump wants to force the leadership in Tehran with toughest economic sanctions to agree to a renegotiation and stricter conditions. Iran refuses. As long as Trump does not return to the nuclear deal and does not lift the sanctions, „Iran will not negotiate with the US, even if it should lead to further tensions,“ said President Hassan Rouhani.
The UK State Department said that Secretary of State Andrew Murrison would travel to Iran on Sunday to discuss de-escalation. Murrison will also express international concern over Iran’s behavior and its threats to stop adhering to the nuclear agreement. The US also requested a special session of the UN Security Council. The deliberations are scheduled for Monday behind closed doors.
