Iran’s Parliament Examines Tehran-Moscow Information Security Bill

The Iranian parliament is reviewing a bill covering cooperation between Tehran and Moscow on information security, according to IRNA, the Iranian state news agency.

The bill is presented to the parliament in order to implement an agreement signed three years ago by Iran’s former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

The nine-article bill reportedly aims to combat cyber threats, strengthen information security and promote cooperation.

The bill also has a clause that refers to the exchange of information and cooperation in the prosecution of criminal offences between Iran and Russia.

In recent years, Tehran and Moscow have boosted their political, military, communication and cyber relations, raising concerns among Western countries and their allies.

Earlier in November, Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) reported that Russia, Iran, and China are likely to plan to influence the upcoming elections in the United States and other countries in 2024. 

“Election infrastructure, campaigns, and voters” are expected to be targeted by “authoritarian regimes,” Microsoft warned.

The report also confirmed that Iran has intensified its cyberattacks and influence operations since 2020, targeting Israel and Bahrain, for instance.

Back in July, Claudia Plattner, the head of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), warned of a growing threat from Russian, Iranian and Chinese cyber-attacks.

“The goals are espionage, destabilization and influence,” said Plattner, adding that Germany as a European power and supporter of Ukraine is an “attractive target” for hacker groups.