Inside Iran's Cyber Objectives: What Do They Want?

Experts describe Iran’s cyber objectives as a blend of intelligence gathering and strategic advantage, using dual-use targeting to support both military and political aims. In 2025, Iran’s offensive cyber activity has included operations attributed to the Iran-nexus group UNC1549, which Google Cloud's Mandiant reported was targeting aerospace and defence organisations for espionage-related purposes.

Experts emphasise that Iran seeks long-term access to networks and data, aiming to collect information that can bolster military capabilities while remaining plausibly deniable, with a doctrine centred on dual-use targeting. As part of its wider strategy, Iran has shown interest in influencing events beyond its borders, with analyses noting activity tied to Israel and concerns over potential domestic network impacts in the US.

Individual researchers describe Iran as prioritising the acquisition of proprietary military intelligence and materials to accelerate progress in tech areas Tehran struggles to obtain legally, and to inform covert supply chains and sanctions evasion.