Hackers target subsidiary of Iran nuclear agency, demand release of prisoners held in recent protests

Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation on Sunday (October 23) said that email server of its subsidiary was hacked in a "foreign" attack aimed at drawing "attention". The development has taken place as the country tackles with mass protests triggered by the custodial death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini.

Amini died in custody after she was detained by Iran's morality police over 'inappropriate attire'. The nationwide protests her death sparked have seen people even calling on the Islamic regime to step away from power.

A group called Black Reward on Friday issued an ultimatum on Twitter, threatening to release documents on Tehran's nuclear programme unless all "political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and people arrested in the recent protests" were released within 24 hours.

Iran's nuclear agency acknowledged thehacking but the subsidiary downplayed the importance of leaked documents.

"Unauthorised access by a source originating from a specific foreign country to the email system of this company led to the publication of the content of some emails on social media," it said in a statement.Material on social media said to be released by the group on Saturday included a short clip from a purported nuclear site in Iran, as well as documents containing agreements, maps and payslips.

The hacking group claimed it leaked 50 gigabytes of internal emails, contracts and construction plans related to Iran’s Russian-backed nuclear power plant in Bushehr on its Telegram channel.

Iran has previously accused the United States and Israel for cyberattacks that have impaired the country’s infrastructure.

“These illegal efforts out of desperation are aimed at attracting public attention,” the organization said.

The protests in Iran first focused on state-mandated hijab for women but transformed into a serious challengeto the country’s ruling clerics. Protesters now call for the downfall of the Islamic Republic itself.

(With inputs from agencies)

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