Biden Strengthens Cybersecurity in US Ports

US President Joe Biden. (EPA)
US President Joe Biden. (EPA)
TT

Biden Strengthens Cybersecurity in US Ports

US President Joe Biden. (EPA)
US President Joe Biden. (EPA)

US President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday aimed at strengthening cybersecurity in US ports, particularly given risks associated with Chinese-made cranes.

"America's ports employ 31 million Americans, contribute $5.4 trillion to our economy, and are the main domestic point of entry for cargo entering the United States," Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, told reporters.

"The continuity of their operations has a clear and direct impact on the success of our country, our economy and our national security," she said.

The order establishes "minimum cybersecurity requirements" and aims to improve the reporting of incidents by ports and port facilities.

The federal government is additionally supporting the manufacture of US cranes and is investing $20 billion in port infrastructure over the next five years.

"Chinese threats are one key threat that this executive order... will help protect ports against," Neuberger said.

Rear Admiral Jay Vann, commander of the United States Coast Guard Cyber Command, told the press briefing that Chinese-manufactured ship-to-shore cranes make up the largest share of the global market and account for nearly 80 percent of cranes at US ports.

He said the coastguard has already assessed the cybersecurity of 92 Chinese-made cranes out of the "over 200" installed at American ports.



Grossi Wants to Meet with Iran’s Pezeshkian ‘at Earliest Convenience’

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)
TT

Grossi Wants to Meet with Iran’s Pezeshkian ‘at Earliest Convenience’

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi announced he intends to visit Tehran through a letter he addressed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iranian Mehr Agency reported that Grossi sent a congratulatory message to the Iranian president-elect, which stated: “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your election win as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“Cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been at the focal attention of the international circles for many years. I am confident that, together, we will be able to make decisive progress on this crucial matter.”

“To that effect, I wish to express my readiness to travel to Iran to meet with you at the earliest convenience,” Iran’s Mehr news agency quoted Grossi as saying.

The meeting – should it take place - will be the first for Pezeshkian, who had pledged during his election campaign to be open to the West to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.

Last week, American and Israeli officials told the Axios news site that Washington sent a secret warning to Tehran last month regarding its fears of Iranian research and development activities that might be used to produce nuclear weapons.

In May, Grossi expressed his dissatisfaction with the course of the talks he held over two days in Iran in an effort to resolve outstanding matters.

Since the death of the former Iranian president, Ibrahim Raisi, the IAEA chief refrained from raising the Iranian nuclear file, while European sources said that Tehran had asked to “freeze discussions” until the internal situation was arranged and a new president was elected.