US sanctions Iran for “malicious cyber activities” against Washington and its allies

Sep. 9 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United States Department of the Treasury has reported this Friday of a battery of sanctions against Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and National Security and its minister, Esmaeil Jatib, for “malicious cyber activities” perpetrated by Tehran against Washington and its allies.

As detailed by the Treasury, Iranian Intelligence has been “since at least 2007” carrying out this type of operation to a variety of government and private sector organizations around the world and in various critical infrastructure sectors.

For the US financial department, Iranian Intelligence is behind a series of networks of cyber threat authors who launch their attacks against “Iranian political targets.”

Thus, the Treasury has ordered to block the properties and interests in the United States of those sanctioned, and has prohibited Americans from participating in transactions with them. The activity of any entity owned at least 50 percent by Jatib and the rest of the sanctioned parties has also been blocked.

“The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior,” the US Treasury Department has concluded.

The most recent episode of Iranian cyberattacks is that of Albania, whose authorities have denounced that Tehran is behind a computer attack that registered its government portals last July.

After this, Tirana announced the breaking of diplomatic relations with Tehran, a measure criticized by the authorities of the Asian country. The United States, for its part, announced that it would take action in retaliation against Iran.