Suspicions that the Israeli military had a hand in the cyber attack on the Iranian nuclear programme have been strengthened after the retiring head of the Israeli Defence Forces referenced the computer virus during his retirement do.

Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi’s indiscreet bash saw Stuxnet references incorporated into a video of the general’s successes, all of which were otherwise publicly reported.

Ashkenazi’s apparent candour comes as Israel continues to refuse to take official responsibility for the computer virus, which has severely affected the Iranian regimes nuclear development programme.

Experts have long suspected Israel’s involvement but attributing responsibility in cyber attacks is notoriously difficult.