Iran doesn't need sci-fi AI to pose a serious cyber threat | Fortune

"Threat actors from Iran have often targeted the United States and Israel over the years, perpetrating attacks against critical infrastructure, performing espionage, DDoS attacks, influence campaigns, and attacks designed to wipe systems. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a well-resourced organization and is a sophisticated cyber actor."

"Iran has more than 10 years of history in attacking U.S. critical infrastructure so they have clear intent and capability of such attacks and would presumably use their latest weapons. It would be surprising if they weren't using AI to advance their offensive cyber capabilities."

"While there is no public evidence Iran can yet orchestrate AI-powered cyber agents at the level Anthropic documented China doing late last year, the country remains one of the world's most capable cyber powers outside the major players—the United States, China, and Russia."

Iran represents a significant cyber threat capable of leveraging artificial intelligence for attacks on critical infrastructure in the United States, Israel, and Gulf States. While no public evidence confirms Iran currently operates AI-powered cyber agents at the sophistication level China demonstrated in late 2025, experts classify Iran as one of the world's most capable cyber powers outside the U.S., China, and Russia. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has demonstrated clear intent and capability through over a decade of attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure, including operations targeting espionage, DDoS attacks, influence campaigns, and system-wiping attacks. Iran has already experimented with AI tools in hacking operations, including using Google's Gemini AI system for target reconnaissance. Given Iran's resources, sophistication, and historical targeting patterns, experts suggest the country would likely employ advanced AI capabilities in future offensive cyber operations.

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