Statistical Centre of Iran

The Statistical Centre of Iran, also known as the Iranian Statistical Centre or Statistical Center of Iran, is a government agency operating within Iran. Its primary function involves the collection, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data pertaining to the nation. This encompasses a wide range of socio-economic indicators crucial for governmental planning, policy formulation, and public information dissemination. As the central statistical authority for the country, it serves the domestic Iranian market exclusively, providing foundational data for internal decision-making processes and reporting.

This government entity experienced a significant cybersecurity incident on May 24, 2016. Its website was subjected to a cyberattack that resulted in temporary disruption of its online services. Iranian cyber police investigators attributed the breach to hackers operating from Saudi Arabia and two other unnamed Arab countries. Authorities explicitly dismissed initial speculation suggesting ISIS involvement, instead linking the attack to a previously identified individual. Iranian officials stated that no sensitive or classified data was compromised during the incident. They characterized the attack as superficial and primarily demonstrative in nature, interpreting it as an action intended to fulfill prior threats issued by Saudi elements. In response, Iran submitted technical evidence, including IP addresses, to Saudi Arabia via Interpol seeking legal action. Furthermore, the Iranian government announced plans to conduct specialized cyber defense exercises to enhance its security posture against future incidents.