The Iranian government recently conducted a major cyber attack on a major U.S. financial institution that a military intelligence report said is a sign Tehran is waging covert war against the West.The cyber attack was not successful but was one of several Iranian-backed electronic strikes detected in recent months that highlights the growing threat from Tehran, a major backer of international terrorism, according to a recent report by the Joint Staff intelligence directorate, known as J-2.
"Iran's cyber aggression should be viewed as a component, alongside efforts like support for terrorism, to the larger covert war Tehran is waging against the west," the report, dated Sept. 14, concluded.
Iran's hostile posture against the United States is well known. However,
those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things...
the Joint Staff J-2's hawkish assessment of the Iranian threat contrasts sharply with the more conciliatory policies of the B.O. regime, a defense official familiar with the report said. For Pentagon's J-2 to acknowledge in the internal report that a covert war is underway was unusual, the official added.
No other details were available on the previously undisclosed attempted Iranian financial cyber attack.