Listen to this Post
Introduction: Cyberwarfare Replaces Conventional Conflict in the Middle East
As geopolitical tensions between Iran and Israel deepen, a new and far more insidious battleground is emerging—not in the skies or across borders, but in cyberspace. According to Iranian-born Israeli cybersecurity expert Sanaz Yashar, CEO of Zafran Security, Tehran is increasingly leaning on cyber operations as both a strategic and symbolic weapon. No longer relying solely on its nuclear program or physical threats, Iran is building a silent, scalable, and deniable arsenal of cyber capabilities to strike its adversaries while bolstering regime legitimacy. This evolution reflects a broader shift in modern warfare—where the lines between physical, political, and digital operations blur, and where hacking a hospital or a university can generate just as much fear and propaganda as launching a missile.
the Original
Sanaz Yashar, an Iranian-born Israeli and former Unit 8200 officer, warns that Iran is rapidly transforming its military focus toward cyberwarfare. As Tehran’s nuclear ambitions are delayed or disrupted, the regime appears to be recalibrating its strategy, eyeing cyberattacks as its next major weapon. Yashar highlights that this pivot is not just reactive but a calculated move. In the digital realm, Iran can carry out attacks that are harder to trace, cheaper to execute, and capable of significant disruption—without the geopolitical risks of direct military engagement.
“There’s no B-2 bomber in cyber,” Yashar notes, referring to the invisibility and deniability of digital strikes. Iran reportedly operates three main cyber entities with thousands of operatives, many working through proxy networks. These cyber soldiers are not exclusively targeting military infrastructure. Instead, the focus has shifted to symbolic targets—such as hospitals, public institutions, universities, and fintech firms—that can yield big headlines with relatively simple methods. These attacks serve dual purposes: undermining perceived adversaries and demonstrating internal strength before any potential ceasefire.
Yashar’s expertise lends weight to her predictions. A veteran of Israel’s elite cyber-intelligence unit, she previously held senior roles at Mandiant (now part of Google), where she investigated high-profile cyberattacks. In 2024, she co-founded Zafran Security, a startup that distinguishes itself by identifying vulnerabilities that are truly exploitable and unmitigated—rather than flagging every potential issue. Zafran has raised \$70 million within six months, attracting major venture firms and even NBA star Steph Curry’s investment arm.
Yashar’s message is clear: as Israel and its enemies shift to hybrid warfare, cybersecurity is no longer just a tech issue—it’s a national security imperative. And amid this shift, companies like Zafran are stepping up not just as startups, but as frontline defenders.
What Undercode Say:
Yashar’s warning is timely and strategic in its insight. Iran’s pivot to cyberwarfare is emblematic of a broader trend in international conflict where digital disruption has become more potent than physical confrontation. Unlike nuclear escalation or missile strikes, cyberattacks don’t require open declarations of war, and they offer plausible deniability—an invaluable feature for regimes facing international scrutiny or sanctions.
Iran’s cyber strategy seems to follow a playbook observed in Russia’s and North Korea’s digital operations. Targeting hospitals, universities, and fintech platforms not only undermines infrastructure but also sparks panic, damages public trust, and destabilizes confidence in institutions. It’s asymmetrical warfare with low input and high psychological return.
The geopolitical implications are profound. By focusing on “low-hanging fruit,” Iran signals that it doesn’t need to challenge Western military superiority directly. Instead, it aims to chip away at the fabric of society—data breaches, ransomware, supply chain attacks—while reinforcing its domestic narrative of strength and technological parity.
Zafran Security’s approach—prioritizing exploitable and unmitigated vulnerabilities—is a welcome evolution in the cybersecurity landscape. Too often, organizations get overwhelmed by alerts and theoretical risks. By narrowing the scope to what actually matters, Zafran not only improves efficiency but also response time—critical in a warzone-like cyber environment.
The startup’s rapid funding success during Israel’s broader tech downturn is not accidental. Investors recognize the growing demand for offensive and defensive cyber capabilities. In many ways, Israel’s cybersecurity sector is becoming the country’s most resilient economic and strategic asset, bridging both Silicon Wadi innovation and national defense.
Furthermore, Yashar herself represents a symbolic convergence: an immigrant from Tehran who now leads the charge against her birth nation’s most dangerous new strategy. That biographical twist adds not only legitimacy to her claims but a sense of urgency to her message.
Her warning about Iran using proxies is especially important. Many cyberattacks attributed to state actors are often traced to semi-autonomous hacker groups, making attribution tricky and responses politically delicate. This tactic lets Iran test boundaries without immediate retaliation—a strategy that could embolden further digital incursions.
If Zafran and firms like it can help nations and corporations distinguish between noise and threat, their value will continue to soar. And given how the battlefield is shifting—from bombs to bytes—it’s fair to say that the future of warfare may be decided not by generals, but by CTOs.
🔍 Fact Checker Results:
✅ Iran operates multiple well-documented cyber units, including APT33 and APT35, often linked to global phishing and ransomware campaigns.
✅ Sanaz Yashar is a confirmed Unit 8200 veteran and co-founder of Zafran Security, with public funding rounds totaling \$70 million.
✅ Iranian cyber campaigns have previously targeted U.S. hospitals and universities, aligning with Yashar’s “symbolic target” claim.
📊 Prediction:
Iran’s cyber warfare will escalate in the coming 12–18 months, particularly if nuclear negotiations stall or ceasefires are brokered in the region. Expect a spike in symbolic cyberattacks timed around political events, national holidays, or international summits. Meanwhile, cybersecurity firms—especially in Israel and the U.S.—will see increased investment, consolidation, and partnerships as demand for advanced threat intelligence rises.
References:
Reported By: calcalistechcom_a2e3f70c220e0f6e9da4b6f6
Extra Source Hub:
https://www.facebook.com
Wikipedia
OpenAi & Undercode AI
Image Source:
Unsplash
Undercode AI DI v2
