According to IRNA, Asghar Zarean said “These drills will be held with the purpose of confronting possible threats and sabotage attempts by the aliens.”

In January, Iran’s mission at the United Nations criticized the US for its involvement in cyber attacks against Tehran, and stressed that Iran respects international laws and regulations against the use of malwares against other nationsˈ economic sectors.

In a statement issued at the time, the mission said Iran condemns any use of malware that target important institutes by violating the national sovereignty of states.

The statement read “Unlike the United States, which has, per reports in the media, given itself the license to engage in illegal cyber-warfare against Iran, the country respects the international law and refrains from targeting other nationsˈ economic or financial institutions.”

It also rejected claims that Iran has allegedly orchestrated cyber attacks on the US financial institutions, and said, ˈ”We believe that raising such groundless accusations are aimed at sullying Iran’s image and fabricating pretexts to push ahead with and step up illegal actions against the Iranian nation and government.”

In December, Iran announced that it has thwarted a second cyber attack on one of its Culture Ministry institutes.