U.S. Treasury Sanctions Iranian Firms & Hackers Involved with Cyberattacks on US Operations

The U.S. Treasury Department recently imposed sanctions on two Iranian firms and four individuals for their involvement in cyberattacks targeting U.S. operations. These sanctions were levied by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) against entities associated with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cyber Electronic Command (IRGC-CEC). The sanctioned firms include Mehrsam Andisheh Saz Nik (MASN) and Dadeh Afzar Arman (DAA), along with four Iranian nationals: Alireza Shafie Nasab, Reza Kazemifar Rahman, Hossein Mohammad Harooni, and Komeil Baradaran Salmani.

According to the Treasury Department, these actors conducted cyber operations such as spear-phishing and malware attacks, targeting over a dozen U.S. companies and government entities from 2016 to April 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) also unsealed an indictment against the four individuals, accusing them of orchestrating cyber attacks against both government and private entities in the United States.

To further incentivize information leading to their identification or location, the U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice program has announced a reward of up to $10 million. Notably, Nasab and Rahman were previously charged in a separate indictment unsealed on February 29, 2024, and the defendants are currently at large.

The cyber activities of MASN and DAA, disguised as contracting companies, were allegedly carried out on behalf of IRGC-CEC. The defendants, including Harooni and Salmani, are accused of engaging in spear-phishing and social engineering attacks against U.S. organizations. Additionally, they are said to have procured and maintained the online network infrastructure facilitating these intrusions.

The defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, they could face substantial prison sentences.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the serious threat posed by criminal activities originating from Iran, stating that the defendants' alleged actions targeted American companies and government departments, posing a risk to national security and economic stability.

These developments occur against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, highlighted by recent military actions between Israel and Iran.