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Mixed reports about cyber attack on Iran nuke program

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    Rogue nation preparing for sabotage attempt

  • Duration 4:21
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Conflicting reports from Iran of another possible cyber attack using a -- -- virus.

Aimed at crippling its nuclear program Iran now denies it recently fought off -- cyber attack on key industrial sites including a power plant.

Iranian officials now claim that original report was due to a misunderstanding.

But the country remains on high alert preparing for cyber sabotage mark -- its executive director of the foundation for defense of democracies.

Is joining us right now to share some perspective on all of this.

As you know mark this happened in the bond.

Any new cyber attack and all he told Iranian students sun news agencies for example the attack was spoiled.

He went on to describe that this was the latest computer worm is being similar to stocks net which of course struck Iran and 2010.

And dealt a serious blow to its to nuclear program but what do you say what actually happened.

There -- you hearing.

Well what I'm hearing is that there indeed was a cyber attacked -- in -- -- can't really decide whether very aggrieved victim or whether there.

So powerful that they are impervious to western attacks -- -- -- this propaganda that comes out of the regime.

But bought Airbus is a strategic area not only does -- Abbas had the -- naval base is controlled by Iran's Revolutionary Guards but it also has key refineries.

As Iran's major commercial port.

And what's most interesting Kelly is that about Airbus actually has -- binder Abbas uranium production plant which is Iran's key production plant.

For the -- mining and production of uranium which is the key ingredient for Iran's nuclear weapons program so a very strategic -- I had no doubt a real conservative western.

Hours and of course that is a very important concern -- not only America but also -- as you -- western powers and there are some who -- that this particular cyber attack was done in retaliation for Ron actually trying to cripple computers in the Saudi Arabia oil industry and even some financial institutions.

Here the United States.

And you'll recall a few months ago that a tacky race Saudi files -- prevented Americans temporarily from gaining access to their accounts.

And in fact Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

If ever call in October called attention to this.

And America's vulnerability computer warfare.

That could be cyber Pearl Harbor so what is -- US doing now.

To protect its assets from cyber attacks coming from Iran.

Well there's no doubt they run -- are aggressively going after.

Our own facilities and that you mentioned two classic examples of this but I think we should go back to the main purpose of these.

Cyber attacks against Iran facilities this is not meant to go after the running people.

This is -- meant to go after Iran's general economy this is meant to go after Iran's nuclear weapons program and this is an attempt to find.

A not military solution.

To Iran's nuclear weapons development I think you're seeing.

Eight campaign by western powers by the United States by his round by others to try to get at the key nodes of Iran's nuclear facilities.

And also to go after Iran's let's -- sensitive energy sector which even the United Nations acknowledges.

Is providing revenues for Iran's nuclear weapons program -- you know to that end congress has -- just approved an amendment to the national defense authorization act which of course would then toughened sanctions on Iran.

And some key areas.

What impact would that have on Iran's nuclear program.

Well you know so far sanctions that no impact -- having broken the nuclear well of fat -- supremely got it on any they have not changed his -- court calculus.

But there's no doubt the Iranian regime is hurting its economy is in free fall and these sanctions are meant to massively intensify the economic pressure.

In the hope that peaceful economic pressure.

Will change their regimes -- score count it's again no evidence that it has we'll see what the next round of negotiations exposed to resume in January.

Yeah I and that's a very important time but again the -- on the military option does remain on the table albeit it's not being discussed right now.

Well the military option have to be on the table because the only way that say you break the coming days nuclear well is that he -- the United States we use military force.

To destroy his nuclear facilities that he doesn't believe that he is no reason a compromise and all the stocks -- attacks and sanctions in the world are not gonna change.

His decision and his desire to have nuclear weapons mark do what's thank you very much for shedding so much perspective and insight on this -- -- -- --

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