Cyber 9/11 US pretext to invade other nations: Iranian Lawmaker

An Iranian lawmaker has slammed claims by Washington of imminent cyber 9/11 attacks against the US interests.

Seyyed Hossein Naqavi-Hosseini, spokesman for Iran’s Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on Friday that the claims of imminent cyber war are among the “scenarios that US officials have orchestrated in an attempt to invade other countries.”

The Iranian lawmaker was making reference to the statements by US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano who warned on January 24 against the looming threat of a major cyber attack and urged immediate action to prevent a “9/11 in the cyber world.”

“Through propaganda, the global arrogance seeks to use the cyber 9/11 as a pretext to violate the civil rights of the people across the world,” Naqavi-Hosseini stated.

“After the fallacy of 9/11 scenario was revealed, today Washington seeks to revive it in the cyber space to pursue the long-term and short-term objectives of its foreign policy.”

The Iranian legislator pointed to numerous cyber attacks by the US against the websites of other countries which oppose its policies, and warned Washington against retaliatory measures by those states.

In late January, Pentagon officials said the US Department of Defense had embarked on a colossal expansion of its cyber security forces from the current number of 900 to 4,900.

The plan is partially initiated by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who warned in October 2012 that the US was facing an imminent “cyber Pearl Harbor.”