Nuclear Iran Will Destabilize Entire World, Lapid Says In Germany
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who is on a state visit to Germany, reiterated Monday that the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran would be a "crucial mistake."
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who is on a state visit to Germany, reiterated Monday that the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran would be a "crucial mistake."
During a joint press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Lapid said he provided the chancellor with sensitive intelligence information that supports Israel's opposition to the looming agreement.
Stressing the need for a new strategy to stop Iran's nuclear program, he said, "Removing sanctions and pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into Iran will bring waves of terrorism, not only to the Middle East, but also across Europe." He added, “A nuclear Iran will destabilize the Middle East, and create a nuclear arms race that will endanger the entire world.”
Lapid welcomed the statement released by Germany, Britain and France who said September 10, that they had "serious doubts" about Tehran's intentions to reach a nuclear deal.
Scholz, for his part, said the Islamic Republic must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. He said Germany and the other European powers had made suggestions that Iran had refused, expressing regret that Tehran has not positively responded to the proposals.
Despite Israel’s strong opposition to a new agreement, Scholtz renewed calls for a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear crisis, saying that “a functional international agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program is the right way.”
The most recent case of a destructive cyberattack attributed to Iranian intelligence operatives was an intrusion by hackers into Albanian government computer systems that began in 2021 and ended with a massive disruption in July, according to Microsoft’s security investigations. Information was stolen and public services disrupted by the Iranian hackers, because Albania is hosting an opposition group.
Last week, Albania cut diplomatic relations with Iran and expelled its diplomats and immediately its security forces entered the embassy compound looking for evidence.
The United States imposed sanctions on Iran’s intelligence ministry and its minister, with NATO also expressing support for its member state Albania.
According to information obtained from Backdoor cybersecurity firm the head of cyber warfare of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) is a person identified as 61-year-old Hamidreza Lashkarian (Lashgarian) living in Tehran and apparently a university lecturer with published articles. He has a background of involvement in various IRGC intelligence operations against commercial navigation and other clandestine activities.
Last year, a group called Sayyad Project had targeted the airport of Albania’s capital Tirana. An anti-Iran cyber group called Lab Dookhtegan or Read My Lips revealed the identity of the person directing the cyberattack as Mohammad-Bagher Shirinkar.
Iran International has obtained his photo from Backdoor and his alias is Mojtaba Tehrani, sanctioned by the United States for his tied with the IRGC.
His brother Mhammad-Hossein Shirinkar is also one of the main actors in the Sayyad group. He is reportedly the head of IRGC Intelligence Inspectorate, according to Lab Dookhtegan.
Another operator is Mehdi Hashemi Tughraljardi who is the brother-in-law of Shirinkar brothers. He is also sanctioned by the US and general director of a digital company in Tehran.
Microsoft’s investigation made clear conclusion about the cyberattacks on Albanian public digital infrastructure. “Microsoft assessed with high confidence that on July 15, 2022, actors sponsored by the Iranian government conducted a destructive cyberattack against the Albanian government, disrupting government websites and public services,” adding that Microsoft security intelligence assesses that a separate Iranian state-sponsored actor leaked sensitive information that had been exfiltrated months earlier through various websites and social media outlets.
“Microsoft assessed with moderate confidence that the actors involved in gaining initial access and exfiltrating data in the attack are linked to EUROPIUM, which has been publicly linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS),” Microsoft said.
According to Microsoft, attackers were observed operating out of Iran and used tools and a wiper code previously used by other known Iranian attackers with a history of targeting other sectors and countries that are consistent with Iranian interests.
