U.S. Sanctions Iranians for Cyber Attacks

The Biden Administration on Wednesday sanctioned 3 Iranians and 2 entities, all affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for their role in using ransomware cyberattacks to extort organizations in the U.S., Israel and Europe, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The individuals were members of the IRGC and have infiltrated computer systems since 2020, including a domestic violence shelter that was forced to pay ransom.

While the attacks weren't directed from Tehran, the sanctions come amid recent U.S. efforts to hold Iran accountable for cyberattacks.

"Ransomware actors and other cybercriminals target businesses and critical infrastructure and threaten the physical security and economy of the United States and other nations," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. "The U.S. is taking actions today to combat and deter ransomware threats."

Last week, Washington announced sanctions against Iran for its role in targeting Albanian government services in July.

Concurrently with the latest designations, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is highlighting three individuals under its reward offer for information on foreign malicious cyber activity against U.S. critical infrastructure.

"Under this reward offer, the Department is offering up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, participates in malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act," Blinken noted.

"The United States will not tolerate malicious cyber activities victimizing the backbone of the U.S. economy and critical infrastructure," he added.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.