U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
For Immediate Release
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN
September 9, 2022
Sanctioning Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security for Malign Cyber Activities
The United States is designating Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and its Minister of Intelligence, Esmail Khatib, for engaging in cyber-enabled activities against the United States and its Allies.
In July 2022, cyber threat actors assessed to be sponsored by the Government of Iran and its MOIS disrupted Albanian government computer systems, forcing the government to suspend public services for its citizens.
Iran’s cyberattacks targeting civilian government services and critical infrastructure sectors can cause grave damage to these services and disregard norms of responsible peacetime state behavior in cyberspace. The United States will continue to use all appropriate tools to counter cyberattacks against the United States and our allies.
For more information on today’s action, please see the Department of the Treasury’s press release.