Iran International confirmed on Tuesday that recently published materials from the hacked Telegram accounts of its journalists are linked to two separate cyberattacks carried out in the summer of 2024 and January 2025.
“The hackers may have accessed the computers of affected colleagues by installing malware via their compromised Telegram accounts. These incidents have been addressed as part of our continuing work with the relevant security authorities,” read a statement by the channel.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian state outlets published screenshots from internal Telegram chats linked to Iran International.
The attacks were carried out by the cyber group known as Banished Kitten (also referred to as Storm-0842 and Dune). The group operates under the Cyber Threat Countermeasures Unit of the Domestic Security Directorate of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, under the supervision of Yahya Hosseini Panjaki, whose
identity was first exposed by Iran International.
"These cyberattacks are part of a broader campaign of threats targeting Iran International, including physical threats against our staff," the statement added.
"As a news organization committed to independent journalism, we implemented the necessary measures following these incidents to protect our staff and audiences," it said.
"We remain resolute in our mission to deliver accurate, uncensored news to our audience, and we will not allow these threats—online or offline—to disrupt our work. These attempts to intimidate us will not succeed," the channel added.
Iran International is a Persian-language TV news network that broadcasts 24/7 and has a strong following in Iran, despite government efforts to restrict access to the internet and satellite signals. Tehan has labelled it a terrorist organisation.
Iran International has previously been the subject of threats and attacks. In 2023, a man was convicted under terrorism laws after filming outside its premises, and in 2024, Pouria Zeraati, the television host of the "Last Word" program on Iran International was stabbed in London.
