iscover
Share this article on:
Powered by
MOMENTUM
MEDIA
Iranian security officials reveal a total ban on all communication devices after lethal pager and walkie-talkie explosions.
Iranian security officials have shared details of a ban on all forms of communications devices with the Revolutionary Guards Corps in the wake of two days of exploding devices targeting members of the terrorist group Hezbollah last week.
Two senior officials shared details of the ban with Reuters, citing fears of Israeli infiltration, particularly Iranians being paid by Israel, and that multiple investigations have been launched.
One operation is currently examining every electronic device currently in use by the Guards Corps, while another investigation is focusing on senior and middle-level members.
"This includes scrutiny of their bank accounts both in Iran and abroad, as well as their travel history and that of their families," one anonymous security official told Reuters overnight.
The official did not share how the Guards Corps is currently communicating, but did say “For now, we are using end-to-end encryption in messaging systems.”
According to Reuters, Iran is examining “several” of the exploded devices.
A second official also told Reuters that protection of Iran’s missile and nuclear facilities was a priority, telling Reuters that “since last year, security measures at those sites have increased significantly.”
"There has never, ever been such tight security and extreme measures in place as there are now," the official said.
Iran makes wide use of foreign- and home-made devices for its communications.
Iran’s move comes a week after thousands of pagers across Lebanon exploded, in an operation – presumably by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad – targeted at members of Hezbollah. Two members of the terrorist organisation were killed alongside ten civilians, while almost 3,000 people were injured. The attack took place on September 17.
The next day saw another wave of explosions, only this time the devices were walkie-talkies. This attack killed around 30 people and injured 750.
While initial reports suggested Israeli agents had somehow intercepted Hezbollah’s supply chain, reporting from The New York Times suggests the pagers were built by a firm in Hungary; however, it is actually an Israeli shell company. The firm – BAC Consulting – manufactured pagers for several other customers, but in the batch sent to Hezbollah the batteries contained the explosive PETN.
These were subsequently set off via a message purporting to be from senior Hezbollah leadership.
The attacks were widely condemned. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on September 18 that “civilian objects” must not be used as weapons of war.
"I think it's very important that there is an effective control of civilian objects, not to weaponise civilian objects – that should be a rule that governments should be able to implement," Guterres said.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
Be the first to hear the latest developments in the cyber industry.
