Security News > 2022 > September > U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Iran Over Cyberattack on Albania

The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday announced sanctions against Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security and its Minister of Intelligence, Esmaeil Khatib, for engaging in cyber-enabled activities against the nation and its allies.

The development comes months nearly nine months after the U.S. Cyber Command characterized the advanced persistent threat known as MuddyWater as a subordinate element within MOIS. It also comes almost two years following the Treasury's sanctions against another Iranian APT group dubbed APT39.

Friday's sanctions effectively prohibit U.S. businesses and citizens from engaging in transactions with MOIS and Khatib, and non-U.S. citizens that engage in transactions with the designated entities may themselves be exposed to sanctions.

Coinciding with the economic blockade, the Albanian government said the cyberattack on the digital infrastructure was "Orchestrated and sponsored by the Islamic Republic of Iran through the engagement of four groups that enacted the aggression."

The MEK, also known as the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, is an Iranian dissident group largely based in Albania that seeks to overthrow the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and install its own government.

"Some of the Albanian organizations targeted in the destructive attack were the equivalent organizations and government agencies in Iran that experienced prior cyberattacks with MEK-related messaging," the Windows maker said.

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https://thehackernews.com/2022/09/us-imposes-new-sanctions-on-iran-over.html