Cyber attacks hit Iran amid US-Israeli strikes; Tehran signals readiness for talks

Early Saturday morning, a series of cyber operations hit Iran alongside a joint US-Israeli military strike. Several news websites were hacked to display

Early Saturday morning, a series of cyber operations hit Iran alongside a joint US-Israeli military strike. Several news websites were hacked to display unusual messages. The popular religious calendar app BadeSaba, downloaded over five million times, was also targeted. The app displayed messages urging users: “It’s time for reckoning”. It encouraged armed forces to lay down their weapons and join civilians.

US President Donald Trump confirmed he will speak with Iranian leaders. He said, “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk. They should have done it sooner.” When asked about the timing, he added, “I can’t tell you.”

In parallel, Iran indicated willingness to ease tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi. Araghchi stressed that the roots of the conflict must be addressed. He also called for halting military operations and containing the crisis. Both sides agreed on the need to avoid further escalation. They emphasized respect for sovereignty and international law. Diplomacy and dialogue were highlighted as the priority. Officials called for a return to political negotiations and peaceful solutions.

Cybersecurity experts warn that recent cyber activity may signal the start of more aggressive operations. Adam Meyers, senior vice president of counter-adversary operations at CrowdStrike, said the company has detected activity consistent with Iranian-aligned threat actors and hacktivist groups. These actors are conducting reconnaissance and launching DDoS attacks targeting critical systems.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity firm Anomali reported that state-backed Iranian hacking groups had already carried out “wiper” attacks designed to erase data on Israeli systems prior to the military strikes.

Although Iran is frequently cited by U.S. officials alongside Russia and China as a major cyber threat, its previous responses to attacks on its territory have been limited