Stuxnet worm ‘nuclear spies’ arrested, claims Iranian Minister Moslehi

TEHRAN - Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi has said that an unspecified number of ‘nuclear spies’ were arrested in connection with a damaging ‘Stuxnet worm’ that had infected computers in its nuclear program.

According to The New York Times, Moslehi also said that the ministry had achieved “complete mastery” over government computer systems and was able to counter any cyber attacks by “enemy spy services.”

“All of the destructive activities perpetrated by the oppressors in cyberspace will be discovered quickly and means of combating these plans will be implemented. The intelligence Ministry is aware of a range of activities being carried out against the Islamic Republic by enemy spy services,” Moslehi added.

Last week, Iran confirmed the Stuxnet worm, a malicious self-replicating program that attacks computers that control industrial plants, had infected computers in its nuclear operations. Officials claimed that the worm was found personal computers at the Bushehr nuclear plant, a power generator that is not believed to be part of a weapons program, and that it had not caused “serious damage” to government systems.

Although the origins of the worm remain obscure, computer security experts believe it was created by a government with an intention of sabotaging Iran’s nuclear program, which Western countries believe is aimed at creating a nuclear weapon.

Iran, however, had portrayed the worm as a cyber attack by Western powers and that Israel intended to derail the country’s nuclear program, which the government says is for peaceful purposes. (ANI)