Iranian Hacker Group Claims Full Breach of 'Iran International' Network
The Hanzaleh hacker group claims to have breached Iran International’s systems, seizing employee data, financial records, and info on 71,000 contributors.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — The Hanzaleh hacker group has claimed responsibility for what it described as a comprehensive cyberattack against the London-based Persian-language television channel "Iran International," stating that all of the outlet's systems, servers, and communication infrastructures have been compromised.
According to a report by Iran’s state-run IRIB News Agency, the hacker group announced that it had extracted a wide range of internal data from Iran International, including "confidential correspondence, personal information of employees, financial records, and communications with foreign institutions."
The report noted that the hacking group has promised to begin releasing the obtained data soon. It also claimed that the first wave of leaked material would be part of "a surprise" allegedly planned by the hackers.
The Hanzaleh group further asserted that it had acquired access to the information of over 71,000 individuals who had previously sent content or information to Iran International. “The 71,000 people who sent content to [Iran] International have been identified,” the group was quoted as saying by IRIB.
Iran International has not yet publicly responded to the hacking claims. The channel, which broadcasts in Persian and is known for its critical coverage of the Iranian government, has previously been labeled a "terrorist media outlet" by Iranian state-affiliated entities.
IRIB described the cyber operation as a major blow to what it called a "terrorist network," though no independent verification of the breach or the authenticity of the claims has yet been made.
The incident, if confirmed, would mark one of the most significant cyber intrusions against a Persian-language media outlet operating abroad, raising new concerns over the safety and privacy of contributors and whistleblowers who have shared sensitive material with foreign media.
As of Monday evening, Iran International remained offline, with access to its official website and broadcast signal reportedly disrupted. Authorities in the UK have not issued any formal comment on the matter.
The Hanzaleh group concluded its announcement with a warning that "more revelations are imminent."
