US Sanctions Iranian, Lebanese People, Companies

The U.S. sanctioned more than 45 Iranian people and companies for cyberattacks, and designated two Lebanese companies and a Lebanese official for involvement with Hezbollah. The Iranian sanctions target Advanced Persistent Threat 39 and Rana Intelligence Computing Co. as Ministry of Intelligence and Security-owned or -controlled, the Office of Foreign Assets Control said Sept. 17. Rana was involved in a “years-long malware campaign” that targeted Iranian dissidents, journalists and international companies, OFAC said. The Lebanese designations target Lebanon-based Arch Consulting and Meamar Construction, and Sultan Khalifah As’ad, a Hezbollah Executive Council official “closely associated” with both companies, OFAC said.

Iran is using its Intelligence Ministry “as a tool to target innocent civilians and companies, and advance its destabilizing agenda around the world,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Iranian groups targeted at least 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa and “hundreds” of individuals and entities in 30 other countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. “Today’s action is another reminder of the great risk that the Iranian regime poses to international cybersecurity as well as to the Iranian people, who face the continued threat of digital darkness and high-tech silencing,” Pompeo said.