THE US launched a cyber-strike on Iranian weapons systems after President Trump pulled out of an air attack on the hardline country, according to reports. The computer attack is said to have disabled the hi-tech operating systems controlling rocket and missile launchers in the Islamic Republic. Insiders say the move was in retaliation for the […]
THE US launched a cyber-strike on Iranian weapons systems after President Trump pulled out of an air attack on the hardline country, according to reports.
The computer attack is said to have disabled the hi-tech operating systems controlling rocket and missile launchers in the Islamic Republic.
Insiders say the move was in retaliation for the shooting down of a US drone as well as attacks on oil tankers that the US has blamed Iran for..
As of this morning, there was no independent confirmation of the damage caused to the Iranian military systems by US Cyber Command (USCC).
CNN claimed the online strike also targeted an Iranian spy group’s computer software that was used to track the tankers that were targeted in the Gulf of Oman on June 13.
A spokesman for the Pentagon said “as a matter of policy and for operational security, we do not discuss cyberspace operations, intelligence or planning.”
However, two officials – speaking off the record – told The Associated Press the strikes were conducted with approval from Trump.
The action is being seen as a demonstration of the US cyber military capabilities and its more aggressive cyber strategy under the Trump administration.
Over the last year US officials have focused on persistently engaging with adversaries in cyberspace and undertaking more offensive operations.
News of the computer attack comes as the US also imposed sanctions President Trump described as “major”.
He said the sanctions were needed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and economic pressure would be maintained unless Tehran changed course.
On Friday, Mr Trump claimed he called off a military strike against Iran after he was told 150 people would die.
The US President was set to order a hit on three targets in the Islamic Republic after Tehran blasted an unmanned spy drone out of the sky on Thursday.
He tweeted: “On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters.
“We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General.
“10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone.
“I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world.
We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die
US President Trump
“Sanctions are biting & more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD!
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Trump requested talks with Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after aborting the air strikes.
The brash billionaire reportedly sent a message via Oman to the Islamic Republic’s Supreme leader as Tehran released images showing the wreckage of the aircraft which it blasted out of the sky yesterday.
An Iranian source told Reuters: “In his message, Trump said he was against any war with Iran and wanted to talk to Tehran about various issues.
“He gave a short period of time to get our response but Iran’s immediate response was that it is up to Supreme Leader Khamenei to decide about this issue.”
Iran has also claimed today it issued several warnings before shooting down the drone over what it said was Iranian territory.
Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh told state TV that Iranians gave the warnings over radio frequencies that are routinely monitored by drone pilots and the US military.
“Unfortunately, they did not answer,” he said.
He added Iran collected the debris from its territorial waters which Tehran claims proves that the aircraft was flying in their airspace – something which Washington denies.
Meanwhile, a US missile-launching battleship has been put on 72-hour standby to attack Iran after Trump called off an air strike last night, it has been reported.
American military assets in the region, including the missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf, have been put on alert after the Islamic Republic shot down a spy drone yesterday, a Pentagon official reportedly said.
The source said that US troops were woken up at around 2am local time “within the hour” of the proposed strike – but then nothing happened, according to Newsweek.
Among the targets which US military chiefs were targeting was the S-125 Neva/Pechora surface-to-air missile system, the Pentagon official said.
Washington believes the Soviet-era weapon was used to down the drone on Thursday although Iran claims they used the domestically-made 3rd Khordad transporter erector launcher to destroy the aircraft.
According to reports, US President Trump signed off on military strikes to destroy targets such as radar and missile batteries during a day of feverish tensions.
But he called them off with moments to spare after intense debate in the White House among the president’s top national security officials and congressional leaders, the New York Times reports.
According to the report, the strike was called off against the advice of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, national security adviser John Bolton and CIA director Gina Haspel.
Planes were already in the air and ships were in position to launch a ferocious bombardment when the order was given to stand down last night, the paper claimed.
Speaking with Reuters, an Iranian official said that Tehran received a message from Trump overnight warning them of the imminent attack.
The White House and the Pentagon declined to comment officially on the reports.
Earlier, Trump declared that “Iran made a very big mistake” by shooting down the unmanned £102m US spy drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
He also suggested that the downing of the aircraft was a foolish error rather than an intentional escalation of tensions – which have led to rising fears of open military conflict.
Trump said at the White House: “I find it hard to believe it was intentional, if you want to know the truth.
“I think that it could have been somebody who was loose and stupid that did it.”
But Iran portrayed the shooting as a deliberate defence of its territory – insisting the drone was flying over their airspace.
However, the Islamic Republic has been accused of using a fake photo in an attempt to ‘prove’ the aircraft was over its territory.
State-run IRNA news agency shared an image of a damaged drone falling to Earth to illustrate its report.
But it has subsequently emerged that the same image – albeit in a wider crop – was previously used on a report of another drone being shot down over Yemen two year’s ago.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.
In recent days, the US confirmed another attempt by Iran to shootdown an American drone last week as well as the successful destruction of one on June 6 by Iranian-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen
Earlier this week, the US announced plans to deploy more than 1,000 additional troops to the Middle East following suspected bomb attacks on two oil tankers.
The Pentagon released photos which it claims proves Iran’s Revolutionary Guard were behind the attacks on the ships in the Gulf of Oman.
The Federal Aviation Administration last night prohibited US-registered planes from flying in Iranian-controlled airspace in the Gulf as a direct result of the recent tensions, Market Watch reports.
Congressional leaders urged caution to avoid escalation and some lawmakers insisted the White House must consult with Congress before taking any actions.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton have advocated hardline policies against Iran.
The Trump administration is engaged in a “maximum pressure” campaign of economic sanctions with a buildup of American forces in the region.
Yesterday, Iran called the sanctions “economic terrorism” insisting the drone had invaded its airspace – near the Kouhmobarak district in south of the country.
It accused the US of “a very dangerous and provocative act” and said it was taking its case to the United Nations.
The drone – which has a wingspan wider than a Boeing 737 – entered Iranian airspace “despite repeated radio warnings”, Iran’s UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi claimed.
But the US insists the aircraft was 21 miles from the nearest Iranian territory and flying at high altitude when struck by a surface-to-air missile.
Trump, who has said he wants to avoid war and negotiate with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, appeared to play down the significance of the shootdown.
He cast it as “a new wrinkle … a new fly in the ointment” while also saying “this country will not stand for it, that I can tell you.”
Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, commander of US Central Command air forces in the region, took a more pointed view of the incident.
He said: “This attack is an attempt to disrupt our ability to monitor the area following recent threats to international shipping and free flow of commerce.”
The US recently sent an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf region and deployed additional troops alongside the tens of thousands already there.
It comes just a week after Iran was accused of planting and detonating mines on two oil tankers in the region.
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