In an exclusive interview with Iran Press on Sunday, Dr. Gholam Reza Jalali explained the main duties of the organization that he heads -- the Passive Defense Organization of Iran. He said: "Our principal duty is to constantly monitor the threats which pose a danger to the non-military establishment within the Islamic Republic. Considering the fact that most threats to this sector have a human, scientific, or technological origin, by monitoring the latest telecommunications science and technology we can get a good idea of the threats that we are facing".
He added: "A crucial point is that the manufacturers of telecommunications, software, hardware, and control technology, can use the specific in-built capabilities of their product, to pose a serious threat to any country which has purchased that technology, or uses that technology. Thus, in effect, a handful of (mainly Western) countries which manufacture sophisticated telecommunications, software, hardware, and control technologies effectively pose a threat to any country which uses their technology.
Dr. Jalali added: "Thus , the smart approach is to identify what threats we are facing, and then how best to neutralize those threats."
Asked how much progress there has been in recent years producing sensitive technology at home, Dr. Gholam Reza Jalali said: "We have identified cyber technology as a key technology which has been combined or in-fused into other technologies to make new products. Thus use of internet and cyber technology is unavoidable because so much depends on this technology. It is vital that our telecommunications infrastructure be as indigenous as possible -- or as Iranian as possible.
In further remarks, Dr. Jalali emphasized that according to artificial intelligence experts, any intelligent system which can be controlled from 'a long way away' has the potential of being taken over or controlled by the enemy. Thus in remote control intelligent systems we should all be aware that the enemy may be able to infiltrate and take over the control of our system -- thus this is a real danger that we face.
Dr. Jalali pointedly added: "Remote controlled intelligent systems are used in sensitive industries , such as the oil and gas industries, the nuclear industry, and defense industries. The best answer to the threat of enemy infiltration and take-over of our systems is to manufacture our own intelligent software, harware, control and telecommunications systems. Home-built technology is the best way to counter threats from abroad !"
