Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli infantry force of 20 soldiers moved into the Bastra farm in southern Lebanon, and machine gun fire targeted the surrounding area
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli unit advanced toward the al-Majidiyah plain, near a Lebanese army position in the eastern sector
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone targets a motorcycle in the town of Houla
US President Donald Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia, beginning Gulf trip that includes Qatar, UAE.
Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA) chief Abdel Ghani al-Kikli confirmed dead.
Gunfire heard in various areas of the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
Libyan sources: The Ministry of Interior urges all citizens in Tripoli to remain in their homes.
Libyan sources: Air traffic halted at Tripoli Airport following reports of the death of Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA) chief Abdel Ghani al-Kikli.
Libyan sources: Clashes and military movements reported inside the capital, Tripoli.
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanese officials must also prioritize rebuilding the state economically and socially, as well as returning the depositors’ funds.

US sanctions Iranian ministry over alleged Albania cyberattack

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Sep 2022 19:29
6 Min Read

Iran slams the US and UK for remaining silent when it comes to cyberattacks against Tehran, as the US Treasury sanctions Iran's Intelligence Ministry.

  • x
  • The US Treasury Department
    The US Treasury Department

The US announced sanctions Friday on Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and its Minister Esmail Khatib, after accusing Tehran of being behind a cyberattack against NATO ally Albania.

Reuters said the Iranian Ministry was already designated under US sanctions.

According to the Albanian government, Iran allegedly carried out the attack on July 15, seeking to paralyze public services and access data and communications in government systems.

The US claimed that the Iranian Intelligence Ministry was behind the attack, which Tirana said mostly failed and caused no lasting damage.

"Iran’s cyber attack against Albania disregards norms of responsible peacetime state behavior in cyberspace, which includes a norm on refraining from damaging critical infrastructure that provides services to the public," said US Treasury Under Secretary Brian Nelson.

The Treasury claimed that the Iranian Ministry directs several alleged cyber-espionage, hacking, and ransomware networks.

"We will not tolerate Iran’s increasingly aggressive cyber activities targeting the United States or our allies and partners," Nelson said in a statement.

The Treasury singled out one Iranian group, dubbed MuddyWater, which it claimed has conducted cyber campaigns since 2018, allegedly exploiting foreign network vulnerabilities to steal sensitive data and deploy ransomware.

MuddyWater conducted a sustained cyber attack against Turkish government entities late last year, it said.

In addition, the Iranian hackers were blamed for leaking documents from the government in Tirana and personal information on certain Albanians.

In a blog post on Thursday, Microsoft, whose cybersecurity research team opened an investigation about the alleged hacking incident, claimed that the alleged Iranian cyber operation involved a combination of digital espionage techniques, data wiping malware, and online information operations

The researchers said the goal of the hackers was to embarrass Albanian government officials.

The sanctions seek to freeze any assets those designated might have under US jurisdiction and forbid any US individuals or companies — including international banks with US operations — to do business with them; a move aimed at blocking their access to global financial networks.

Iran slams US, UK for silence over cyberattacks against Tehran

On its part, the Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations slammed Thursday the United States and Britain for remaining silent when it comes to cyberattacks against Tehran.

In a statement, the mission considered that "as a victim of cyber-attacks, Iran strongly condemns any cyber-attack targeting civilian infrastructure in all its forms and manifestations."

Related News

Trump begins Gulf visit focusing on trillion-dollar economic deals

US to cut 'de minimis' tariff on China shipments to 54% from 120%

"We rejected the baseless accusations of the US and the UK against the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding an alleged cyberattack on Albania," the statement stressed.

The Iranian mission pointed out that "the US and the UK, that had previously remained silent in numerous cyberattacks against Iran’s infrastructures and its nuclear facilities, and had even directly or indirectly supported those measures, lack any legitimacy to level such accusations against Iran."

"As the main victim of terrorism, Iran urges the Member States of the UN to uphold their international obligations in combating terrorism by not harboring or supporting terrorist groups within their territory," the statement read.

Albanian 'baseless' claims 'ill-considered, short-sighted': Iranian FM

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani rejected Wednesday the claims made by the Albanian government and described its decision to sever ties with Iran as unwise.

In a statement, Kanaani said the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers Albania's decision to "sever political relations with our country based on such baseless claims to be an ill-considered and short-sighted action in international relations."

"As one of the countries that have been the target of cyber attacks on its critical infrastructure, the Islamic Republic of Iran rejects and condemns any use of cyberspace as a means to attack the infrastructure of other countries," Kanaani indicated.

The Iranian spokesperson said third-party countries that support terrorism played a key role in Albania's decision to sever ties with Iran, pointing out that the US and Israeli occupation's immediate statements following the Albanian decision proved that there is a new plot and campaign against Tehran.

Kanaani also pointed to Albania's sheltering of a terrorist group and expressed regret that Tirana was influenced by third parties in its inappropriate decisions.

Albania cut ties with Iran over "cyberattack"

Albania broke diplomatic ties with Iran on Wednesday over an alleged cyberattack against the government this summer, as Washington vowed to hold Tehran accountable for targeting its NATO ally.

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama on Wednesday accused Iran of directing an alleged cyberattack against Albanian institutions on July 15 in a bid to "paralyse public services and hack data and electronic communications from the government systems."

"The Council of Ministers has decided on the severance of diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran with immediate effect," announced Rama.

The Prime Minister went on to say that Iranian diplomats and embassy staff had 24 hours to leave the country. 

US vows to provide support to Albania

Following the announcement, Washington vowed to provide support to its ally in the Balkans.  

"The United States strongly condemns Iran's cyberattack against our NATO ally, Albania," National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

"The United States will take further action to hold Iran accountable for actions that threaten the security of a US ally and set a troubling precedent for cyberspace," Watson added. 

Albania hosting MEK terrorist group

It is noteworthy that for years, Tirana has been hosting the People's Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK), which Iran considers a terrorist group.

Albania agreed in 2013 to take in members of the group at the request of Washington and the United Nations.

The MEK regularly hosts summits in Albania that have long attracted support from conservative US Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence who delivered a keynote address at an event in June. 

Albania has expelled a string of Iranian diplomats from the Balkan country over the years, including Tehran's ambassador to the country in December 2018.

  • United States
  • Britain
  • Tehran
  • US
  • Albania
  • UK
  • MEK
  • Iran

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem gives a speech to commemorate martyr Sayyed Mustafa Badreddine on May 12, 2025 (Al Mayadeen Screengrab)
Politics

Israeli pressure doomed to fail, Resistance to prevail: Sheikh Qassem

AP
Politics

'Israel is spiraling' amid Gaza war, internal fractures: The Nation

UNIFIL
Politics

'Israel' hindering Lebanese Army deployment in south: UNIFIL

The scene at BBC Broadcasting House in London, after red paint was sprayed over the entrance. (AP)
Politics

UK journalists given guidebook after failing on covering Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS