The Iranian state media quoted a deputy intelligence chief identified only as Ahangaran, as saying thousands of computers were infected by Stuxnet, but he did not specify whether worldwide or just in Iran.

He also said that Iran is facing difficulties in obtaining anti-malware software because of international sanctions, forcing the country to use its own experts to design the software, Fox News reports.

Iran had earlier acknowledged the malicious software affected a ‘limited number’ of centrifuges, a key component in nuclear fuel production.

Iran claimed that its scientists discovered and neutralized the malware before it could cause serious damage.