Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Thursday urged negotiators at the Iranian nuclear talks to follow basic security rules, after reports of cyberattacks on their meeting venues.

VIENNA (Sputnik) — This came a day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Russia’s Kaspersky Lab cybersecurity firm discovered that a virus had targeted the hotels used for the Iranian nuclear program talks. Kaspersky did not say who was behind the attack, but the outlet cited unnamed US officials who had linked the virus to Israel.

"It is vital to follow basic security rules. I wonder why this did not emerge earlier," Ryabkov told reporters, commenting on the allegations of security breaches.

Negotiators from Iran and a group of six world powers – China, France, Russia, Britain, the United States and Germany – are in the Austrian capital of Vienna for a new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program. They have until the end of June to hash out a comprehensive deal that could see Tehran dismantle parts of its nuclear infrastructure in exchange for sanctions relief.

Earlier in the day, Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General announced an inquiry into suspected political espionage at the Iran nuclear negotiations. According to media reports, the spying was carried out so that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government could build its case against the deal.

Israel has been critical of the deal, arguing that the lifting of sanctions from the Islamic republic would destabilize the region and threaten the existence of the Jewish nation.
By Sputnik News