On December 31 local time, Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Hashemi, stated that the country had suffered a large-scale cyberattack targeting its communications infrastructure on the 28th. The attacks originated from more than 120,000 different sources worldwide and specifically targeted one of Iran’s telecommunications service providers. Thanks to measures taken by relevant authorities, the attack was thwarted. Hashemi noted that the scale and intensity of this cyberattack made it one of the most severe in recent memory. The incident could have posed a serious challenge to Iran, but through the round-the-clock efforts of intelligence, resource, and communications experts, the attack was ultimately brought under control without causing a crisis. Hashemi emphasized that improving the quality of telecommunications services through the implementation of major infrastructure projects remains a top priority at this stage. (CCTV News)