Did The Recent Arrest Of An Iranian-American Businessman In Iran Occur Because Information Was Retrieved In An Iranian Cyber Attack?

After the nuclear deal, Iran’s hard-liners are asserting power. Analysis by @yarotrof https://t.co/gYqny4Iqfy pic.twitter.com/ubJuStxjHr

— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 5, 2015

Wall Street Journal: U.S. Detects Flurry of Iranian Hacking

American officials say they believe cyberattacks tied to arrest in Tehran of Iranian-American businessman

Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard military force hacked email and social-media accounts of Obama administration officials in recent weeks in attacks believed to be tied to the arrest in Tehran of an Iranian-American businessman, U.S. officials said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, has routinely conducted cyberwarfare against American government agencies for years. But the U.S. officials said there has been a surge in such attacks coinciding with the arrest last month of Siamak Namazi, an energy industry executive and business consultant who has pushed for stronger U.S.-Iranian economic and diplomatic ties.

Obama administration personnel are among a larger group of people who have had their computer systems hacked in recent weeks, including journalists and academics, the officials said. Those attacked in the administration included officials working at the State Department’s Office of Iranian Affairs and its Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

“U.S. officials were among many who were targeted by recent cyberattacks,” said an administration official, adding that the U.S. is still investigating possible links to the Namazi case. “U.S. officials believe some of the more recent attacks may be linked to reports of detained dual citizens and others.”

WNU Editor: These IRGC cyberattacks and the arrest of an Iranian-American citizen are the latest signs that the Iranian government does not see the nuclear deal as a first step in the betterment of U.S. - Iranian relations. To them .... its business as usual.