Iran says it blocked cyberattacks on offshore oil drilling platforms

PanARMENIAN.Net - An Iranian oil official said the country has successfully blocked a cyberattack on the computer network of its offshore drilling platforms.

According to the AP, the Oct 8 report by semiofficial ISNA news agency quotes Mohammad Reza Golshani, IT head of Iran's state offshore oil company, as blaming Israel for the attack.

He said the attack occurred over the past two weeks, was routed through China, and affected only the communications systems of the network. He did not provide further details.

Iran periodically reports attacks on government, nuclear, oil and industrial targets, blaming Israel and the United States. Israel has done little to deflect suspicion that it uses viruses against Iran.

Iran is odds with the West over its nuclear program. The West suspects the program is aimed at developing weapons, a charge Tehran denies.