Cyber Warfare and Its Consequences for Iran's National Security
Keywords:
Cybersecurity , Cyber attacks , Information warfare , Critical infrastructure , Iran's national securityAbstract
In recent years, cybersecurity has become one of the strategic dimensions of national security. With the expansion of cyberattacks and the increasing complexity of penetration methods, cyber threats have affected not only information security but also critical infrastructure, the economy, national defense, and public opinion in various countries. Over the past two decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been targeted by numerous attacks, including the Stuxnet and Flame malware, financial system intrusions, and disruptions to critical infrastructure such as transportation and energy. This study, employing a descriptive-analytical method and based on qualitative research, examines the consequences of these attacks on Iran’s national security and analyzes the existing challenges in this domain. The findings indicate that weaknesses in institutional coordination, dependence on foreign technologies, and the absence of a comprehensive national policy framework have increased Iran’s cyber vulnerabilities. In this regard, the study proposes several countermeasures, including the formulation of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, the strengthening of indigenous infrastructure, the expansion of international cooperation, and the establishment of a National Cybersecurity Coordination Center. Without the adoption of preventive and coordinated measures, cyber threats could become one of the most significant security challenges for Iran in the coming years.
Downloads
References
Abdollah Khani, A. (2003). Security Theories: An Introduction to National Security Doctrine Planning (Volume 1). Abrar Contemporary Cultural Studies and Research Institute.
Ahmadinejad, H. (2010). NATO's Presence in Iran's Surrounding Environment and the National Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran Allameh Tabataba'i University, Faculty of Law and Political Science].
Ahmed Jamal, A. (2021). A Review on Security Analysis of Cyber Physical Systems Using Machine Learning. Materials Today: Proceedings.
Alghamdi, M. I. (2021). Determining the Impact of Cyber Security Awareness on Employee Behaviour: A Case of Saudi Arabia. Materials Today: Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.04.093
Baman Eghbali Zarch, A. (2022). Cyber Threats and Attacks Against Iran. Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS).
Beaumont, P. (2010). US Appoints First Cyber Warfare General. The Observer, 10.
Brenner, S. W., & Clarke, L. L. (2010). Civilians in Cyberwarfare: Conscripts. Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, 43, 1011-1076.
Buzan, B. (1991). New Patterns of Global Security in the First-Twenty Century. International Affairs, 67(3), 431-451. https://doi.org/10.2307/2621945
Buzan, B. (1999). People, States, and Fear. Strategic Studies Research Institute.
Cassese, A. (2005). International Law. Oxford University Press.
Castells, M. (2010). The Information Age: Economy, Society, and Culture. Tarh-e No.
Eriksson, J., & Giacomello, G. (2006). The Information Revolution, Security, and International Relations: (IR) Relevant Theory? International Political Science Review, 27(3), 221-XXX. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512106064462
Hare, F. (2010). The Cyber Threat to National Security: Why Can't We Agree? CCD COE Publications.
Kizza, J. M. (2007). Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age. Springer-Verlag.
Krishnasamy, V., & Venkatachalam, S. (2021). An Efficient Data Flow Material Model-Based Cloud Authentication Data Security and Reduce a Cloud Storage Cost Using Index-Level Boundary Pattern Convergent Encryption Algorithm. Materials Today: Proceedings. https://www.sciencedirect.com
Liu, X., Zhang, J., Zhu, P., Tan, Q., & Yin, W. (2021). Quantitative Cyber-Physical Security Analysis Methodology for Industrial Control Systems Based on Incomplete Information Bayesian Game. Computers & Security, 102, 102138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2020.102138
Mandel, R. (2008). The Changing Face of National Security. Strategic Studies Research Institute.
Rosenau, J. (2011). The Information Revolution, Security, and New Technologies. Strategic Studies Research Institute.
Sayyad, M. K., Amini, A., & Taheri, A. (2020). Cyber Threats and Security Measures in Virtual Space: A Comparative Study of the Approaches of the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. National Security Scientific Quarterly, 10(38), 293-331.
Starr, S. H. (2009). Towards an Evolving Theory of Cyber Power. National Defense University, Center for Technology and National Security Policy. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-60750-060-5-18
Talebpour, A. (2019). A History of Cyber Attacks in Iran and the World. Young Journalists Club News Agency.
Torabi, G. (2018). Challenges and Vulnerabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Cyberspace. Strategic Studies, 21(1), 167-195.
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Behrouz Nasiri (Author); Ghasem Torabi (Corresponding Author); Alireza Rezaei (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
