Retaliation by Iran could reach Utah in form of cyberattack, expert says
Jun 23, 2025, 1:25 PM | Updated: 1:28 pm
An operational timeline of a strike on Iran is displayed during a news conference with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. U.S. President Donald Trump gave an address to the nation last night after three Iranian nuclear facilities were struck by the U.S. military. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — Tensions have been high since the Trump administration announced that the U.S. military bombed several nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend.
Utah leaders from Gov. Spencer Cox, to Senators John Curtis and Mike Lee have all addressed the situation. At the same time, many Utahns report they are feeling uncertain about what this could mean here at home.
President Trump’s decisive action in Iran sends a clear message: the United States will not let a nuclear-armed, authoritarian regime threaten global peace.
I’m deeply grateful for the men and women of our armed forces — here in Utah and across the country — whose strength,… https://t.co/41RaGuWcaI
— Governor Cox (@GovCox) June 22, 2025
Tonight, the Iranian nuclear program was wiped out. Please join me in praying for the safety of the brave men and women of America’s armed forces in the Middle East and around the world, and that these strikes may lead to the lasting peace called for by President Trump.
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 22, 2025
John McClure, deputy director of the Center for National Securities Studies at Utah Valley University, told KSL NewsRadio it is possible Utah could be a target of Iranian retaliation. But not necessarily retaliation that involves a physical attack.
“My inclination is that Iran is probably going to bide their time, wait to find a vulnerability, and then exploit that,” McClure said.
Cyberattack by Iran is possible
He thinks we could be part of a regional cyberattack, cyber threat or some sort of attack on our critical infrastructure.
“They [Iran] are very capable in posing a cyberattack on the U.S. or U.S. interests,” McClure said.
McClure said Hezbollah is, “the most capable terrorist organization on the planet,” when it comes to launching a cyberattack on the U.S.
He said the group is directly funded by the Iranian government, that they have military, combat, and bomb-making capabilities, and that they have sleeper cells in several countries, including the U.S.
Physically speaking, McClure said, “I feel we’re generally pretty safe,” in Utah.
“I feel Utah is more prepared (for cyberattacks or threats) than many states in the continental U.S.,” McClure said. “We’ve gone through … full-scale exercises … there’s a number of different policies that have been written, implemented, practiced and updated … for scenarios just like this.”
Ultimately, McClure noted we’ll have to wait and see how things play out. But, if Iran does target an area that includes Utah, he thinks we’ll be ready for it.
“We’re fairly fortified, we’ve taken a lot of precautions, gone through a lot of training, we’re a land-locked state,” McClure said. “I would say Utah is very prepared.”
