US sanctions 45 Iranian citizens and three companies linked to Iran's Ministry of Intelligence
On Thursday, September 17, the US Treasury Department sanctioned several companies and dozens of individuals linked to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
The US Treasury has published details of this decision on its website, showing that a total of 45 Iranian citizens and one Iranian company, along with two Lebanese companies, have been subject to sanctions.
The name of a cyber group and a Lebanese citizen also appear on this list, the latter of which is linked to Lebanon's Hezbollah.
Accordingly, the cyber group "Advanced Persistent Threat 39" and the Rana Smart Computing Company from Iran, along with the Memar development and engineering companies and Arash Consulting Company from Lebanon, have been added to the US blacklist.
The US Treasury says that the Iranian government, behind the Rana company, has been employing individuals for years to produce malware and launch a campaign against international companies, opponents of the Islamic Republic, and journalists.
The ministry's website also echoed statements by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who said that the Iranian government has used the Ministry of Intelligence as a tool to target innocent companies and individuals and pursue its destabilizing goals in the world.
Mr. Mnuchin stressed that the United States is determined to counter aggressive cyber campaigns designed to compromise security and harm the international travel sector.
According to the US Treasury 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 for terrorism and human rights violations.
The US Treasury Department has released the names of 45 Iranians associated with Rana, including programmers, hackers, and managers, saying that after a long-term investigation, it has been able to identify them.
According to the ministry, the sanctioned individuals have helped Rana Company and the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence to organize cyber attacks against commercial companies, organizations, and airlines.
The US Treasury Department continues its announcement by saying that Rana has played a key role in the harassment, cyberattacks, and surveillance of Iranian citizens, particularly opponents of the Islamic Republic, journalists, former government officials, environmentalists, refugees, students, and NGO workers worldwide, with some of these individuals being detained and subjected to physical and psychological abuse.
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 from the US Treasury Department and the FBI indicate that the Rana Group has targeted at least 15 countries in the Middle East and Africa.
Source: Radio Farda
