US Sanctions 45 Iranian Citizens and Three Companies Linked to Iran’s Intelligence Ministry
The US Treasury Department sanctioned several companies and dozens of individuals linked to Iran’s Intelligence Ministry and Lebanon’s Hezbollah on Thursday, September 27.
The US Treasury Department published details of its decision on its website, showing that a total of 45 Iranian citizens and one Iranian company, along with two Lebanese companies, have been subjected to sanctions.
The name of a cyber group and one Lebanese citizen also appear on this list, with the latter being linked to Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Accordingly, the cyber group “Advanced Persistent Threat 39” and the Rana Smart Computing company from Iran, along with the Architecture Development and Engineering Company and Arash Consulting Company from Lebanon, have been added to the US blacklist.
The US Treasury Department says the Iranian government has employed individuals under the name of Rana company for years to launch campaigns using malware against international companies, Islamic Republic opponents, and journalists.
The department’s website also reflected statements by Steven Mnuchin, US Treasury Secretary, who said the Iranian government has turned the Intelligence Ministry into a tool to target companies and innocent people and pursue its destabilizing goals in the world.
Mr. Mnuchin emphasized that America is determined to counter aggressive cyber campaigns that endanger security and cause damage to the international travel sector.
According to the US Treasury Department report, the cyber group “Advanced Persistent Threat 39” is owned or controlled by Rana Company, which was also added to the US blacklist in 2012 in connection with terrorism and human rights violations.
The US Treasury Department, by publishing the names of 45 Iranians linked to Rana Company who include programmers, hackers, and managers, said that after lengthy investigations it was able to identify their identities.
According to the department, the sanctioned individuals helped Rana Company and Iran’s Intelligence Ministry organize cyber attacks against commercial companies, organizations, and airline companies.
The US Treasury Department further stated in its announcement that Rana Company played a key role in harassment, cyber attacks, and surveillance of Iranian citizens, particularly Islamic Republic opponents, journalists, former government officials, environmental advocates, refugees, students, and employees of non-governmental organizations worldwide, with some of these individuals being detained and subjected to physical and psychological torture.
According to this announcement, the cyber group in question has also targeted Iranian academic institutions, private companies, and international Persian language and cultural centers.
Estimates by the US Treasury Department and the FBI suggest that the Rana group has targeted at least 15 countries in the Middle East and Africa.
Source: Radio Farda
