Iranian media minister claims that his country thwarted an electronic attack originating in a foreign country: "We have launched an organized attack against our networked infrastructure"

• Cyber ​​attack // illustration photo: Reuters

Network war: Iranian media minister Muhammad Jawad Azari-Jahrumi has claimed that the Islamic Republic's security services have succeeded in thwarting a cyber attack aimed at the state - by another country. "We have recently faced a major, organized attack by a foreign government aimed at our communications infrastructure," said Jahromi.

At this stage, it is unclear what attack the Iranian official has made, with one of the options being a US attack last October, and aimed at the Iranian propaganda campaign in response to the attack on Saudi oil facilities.

A huge fire at an oil plant in Saudi Arabia

The cyber issue rose to headlines in Iran last week after a Telegram account began publishing the credit card details of millions of citizens in the country when, according to recent reports, the details of more than 15 million cardholders. While the leaks themselves claim to be releasing the card details after trying to extort the country's banks, it is not inevitable that this is also a political factor.

"This is the biggest economic affair in the history of Iran," a conservative media outlet in the country said - after the release of the credit details, "millions of Iranians are scared to be listed in the hacked accounts." The breakthrough hit Iran during a widespread protest in the country, following the severe economic crisis affecting the country.

In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in protest over Iran's economic policies, with the central government's intention to raise the price of fuel and aid Iran provides to terrorist organizations in the Middle East - instead of the welfare of its citizens. During the protest, protesters attacked banks across the state, setting off branches on fire. During the riots, over 200 security forces protesters were killed in the country, suppressing the protest with severe violence.