Iran’s Nuclear Program Exposed By Hackers (Worthy News In-Depth)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Iran’s atomic energy claimed Sunday that hackers “acting on behalf of an unidentified foreign country” broke into its subsidiary’s network and its email system.
The announcement came after the Iranian hacker group “Black Reward” shared information about Iran’s controversial nuclear program.
Video footage shared with Worthy News showed workers wearing white protective clothing at a nuclear facility with clear possibilities for either a nuclear reactor or nuclear-capable missile.
Black Reward said it successfully hacked the internal email system of Iran’s Nuclear Power Production and Development Company.
The group released 50 gigabytes of files through the internet. “We will publish the download links respectively in the next few hours after uploading the information in the online file-sharing service anonymously,” it added.
The hacked trophies shared online included 50 gigabytes of internal emails, contracts, and construction plans related to Iran’s Russian-backed nuclear power plant in Bushehr.
Black Reward also published passports and visas of Iranian and Russian specialists working in the Bushehr power plant. It was unclear whether the breached system contained classified material.
ISRAEL CONCERNED
While Tehran did not mention the alleged “foreign country” supporting the group, there have been tensions between Israel and Iran over its nuclear program.
Israel fears Iran is working on atomic weapons, and its intelligence service successfully undermined the program in the past.
Last month, the head of Israel’s spy agency Mossad said the revival of a nuclear deal with world powers would not give Iran “immunity” from Israeli operations.
Israel has long opposed the 2015 nuclear deal, saying it did not go far enough to halt Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons ambitions.
The Israeli government says it also does not address what it views as hostile Iranian military activities across the Middle East.
“We won’t take part in this charade,” David Barnea said in a speech, his first since becoming Mossad’s chief in June. “Even if a deal is signed, it will not provide immunity from Mossad operations.”
Tehran claims its nuclear program is for “peaceful” energy purposes.
DEADLY PROTESTS
The hack into Iran’s nuclear program comes as the nation faces protests sparked by the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody. She was detained for allegedly not adhering to the country’s strict Islamic dress code.
Iran’s government claimed Amini suffered a heart attack and was not mistreated. Her family said she had no history of heart trouble and that her body bore bruises as well as other signs of beating and torture.
On Sunday, Iran’s leading teachers’ association reported that sit-ins canceled classes at multiple schools in protest over the Islamic government’s crackdown on protesters.
The Black Reward group has demanded Tehran release political prisoners arrested in the recent nationwide protests that reportedly more than 200 people.
A recent deadly fire in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison has also been linked to mounting discontent over Iran’s Islamic leadership.
Two days before the blaze, riot police reportedly arrived at the compound to patrol the corridors, shouting, “Allah is Greatest.”
Sources said they were banging batons on cell doors prompting several inmates to react by shouting for the downfall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, echoing protests across Iran.
Witnesses added that the tensions eventually led to riots, fired shots, and a blaze that killed at least eight people. Tehran claims the October 15 evening fire broke out in the prison workshop after a prisoner fight. Activists say inmates were in their prison cells around that time.
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