The US and other major world powers just reached an interim agreement with Iran aimed at curbing that country’s nuclear program – but experts say this might increase the risk of digital conflict in an already tense region.

The Atlantic Council held a panel discussion about the the future of Iran’s cybercapabilities on Wednesday and Passcode was the exclusive media partner.

Here’s what we learned:

A nuclear deal may inflame the risk of cyberconflict in the region. Whether or not you like the framework agreement, says James Jones, a retired United States Marine Corps general and a former US National Security Adviser, there are still many outstanding national security flashpoints in the region

There’s the war in Syria, in which Iran supports strongman Bashar al-Assad. And there’s Iran’s hostility toward Israel, support for recognized terrorist groups and for Houthi rebels in Yemen, and allegations of hostile actions in cyberspace. The US and its allies will continue to oppose Tehran on these issues, Mr. Jones said. “No nuclear deal is going to change that fact. In fact, the framework nuclear agreement in the context of rising regional tensions could actually inflame the risk of major cyberconflict in the region,” he said.

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