The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran following the cyberattacks launched on Albania. The Ministry of Intelligence and Security was accused of being linked to Albania’s cyberattack, which happened in July. The ministry was also accused of other cyber activities that challenged the United States and its allies.
Albania Orders Staff Out of Iran
The sanction comes after Albania ordered its diplomats and embassy staff to vacate Iranian territories. The US Treasury Department in a statement said the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security directs cyber threat actors. They added that the ministry directed cyber espionage groups involved in ransomware attacks to support the Iranian government.
“Iran’s cyberattack against Albania disregards norms of responsible peacetime behavior in cyberspace,” Brian Nelson, the Treasury’s Under Secretary, said in a statement. “We will not tolerate Iran’s increasingly aggressive cyber activities.”
Iran has not responded to the requests for comment. Microsoft’s Cybersecurity team helped investigate the incident. On Thursday, the team said in a blog post that the Iranian cyber operation involved a combination of digital espionage techniques, data wiping malware, and online information operations.
The cyberattack in July disrupted government websites and other public services. According to the researchers, the goal of the hackers was to embarrass Albanian government officials. Additionally, analysts say the operation was to punish Albania for supporting an Iranian dissident group known as Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).
Furthermore, Nelson said on Thursday, “The United States is committed to strictly enforcing our sanctions on both Russia and Iran. Holding accountable Iran and those supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Consequently, the sanctions will freeze the assets of targeted individuals and entities in the US. It The sanction also makes it illegal for American citizens to do business with Iranians.
The US State Department, which was leading indirect nuclear talks with Iran welcomed the sanctions against the Iranian Ministry. The US State Department added that Washington will use all appropriate tools to counter cyberattacks from Iran.
