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FBIFederal Bureau of Investigation

# The Iran Threat

What We Investigate

                -  Terrorism 
                -  Counterintelligence 
                -  Cyber Crime 
                -  Public Corruption 
                -  Civil Rights 
                -  Organized Crime 
                -  White-Collar Crime 
                -  Violent Crime 
                -  Weapons of Mass Destruction 
                -  How We Investigate 

                -  News 
                -  Most Wanted 
                -  Emerging and Advanced Technology 

## The Iran Threat

The Iranian regime presents a threat from many angles: Cyber. Foreign intelligence. Terrorism.

Threats from the Iranian regime and its terrorist partners can reach across the globe. The FBI is committed to identifying and disrupting all Iranian intelligence and military operations that threaten American citizens or our nation's security and critical infrastructure.

> The conduct charged shows how far Iranian actors are willing to go to silence critics, even attempting to assassinate a U.S. citizen on American soil. We are determined to safeguard the rights of all Americans from the oppressive reach of hostile regimes.
FBI Director Christopher Wray﻿﻿

Working with our intelligence and law enforcement partners worldwide, the FBI has countered a diverse set of threats directed by the Iranian regime, including attempted terrorist attacks and kidnappings, espionage and foreign influence operations, cyber attacks, sanctions evasion, and illicit procurement of sensitive technology to support Iran’s military capability and nuclear program.

The Iranian regime has used repressive tactics in its wrongful detention of Americans in Iran on unsubstantiated criminal charges. The Iranian regime has also exported its repression through its harassment and lethal targeting of Iranian dissidents worldwide, including Americans living in the United States.

The FBI will continue to work diligently to thwart Iran’s violent agenda and use all available authorities to investigate criminal actions directed by the Iranian regime and its terrorist partners like Lebanese Hizballah, including any threats to current or former U.S. officials.

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## Featured News and Stories 

### ﻿Justice Department Announces Charges and New Arrest in Connection with Assassination Plot Directed from Iran

A federal court in New York unsealed murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against three members of an Eastern European criminal organization for plotting the murder of a U.S. citizen.
                    - Director Wray's press conference remarks

### ﻿Three Iranian Nationals Charged with Computer Intrusions and Ransomware-Style Extortion Against U.S. Infrastructure 

The defendants are charged with targeting a broad range of organizations, including small businesses, government agencies, nonprofit programs and educational and religious institutions.
                    - Wanted by the FBI: Iranian Cyber Actors
                    - Joint cyber advisory: Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Affiliated Cyber Actors Exploiting Vulnerabilities
                    - Video statement

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### Member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor

An Iranian national and member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was charged by complaint with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and with providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot.
                    - Wanted by the FBI: Shahram Poursafi﻿
                    - Video statement

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### Iran at Center of Cyber Crime Charges in Three Cases

Criminal charges announced against multiple alleged hackers in Iran show the breadth of the cyber threat emanating from that country and the FBI and partner agency efforts to neutralize it and hold the individuals accountable.

### **﻿Department of Defense Linguist Sentenced to 23 Years**

In June 2021, Mariam Thompson was sentenced to 23 years in prison for delivering classified national defense information to aid a foreign government.

### ﻿Seeking Missing Retired FBI Agent Robert Levinson

The FBI continues to investigate the disappearance of Robert A. Levinson since he went missing on Kish Island, Iran, on March 9, 2007.

### **﻿Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Conspiring with Iranian Officials to Assassinate a Diplomat in Washington, D.C.**

**﻿**In 2011, Manssor Arbabsiar and his Iran-based co-conspirators plotted the murder of the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the U.S. Arbabsiar admitted he was recruited, funded, and directed by men he understood to be senior officials in Iran’s Qods Force.

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##  Industry Alerts

Industry alerts illustrate the threat Iran poses to our nation’s safety and security in a digitally connected world. Material is intended for industry professionals and subject matter experts.
                    - Context and Recommendations to Protect Against Malicious Activity by Iranian Cyber Group Emennet Pasargad
                    - Iranian Government-Sponsored Actors Conduct Cyber Operations Against Global Government and Commercial Networks
                    - Iranian Government-Sponsored APT Cyber Actors Exploiting Microsoft Exchange and Fortinet Vulnerabilities in Furtherance of Malicious Activities

### Transnational Repression

Some countries’ governments harass and intimidate their own citizens living in the U.S. This violates U.S. law and individual rights and freedoms.

                    - ﻿Two Individuals Sentenced in Connection with Work on Behalf of Iran

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## From Our Government Partners 

See more on the U.S. government's response to threats from Iran.

### Department of Justice

                    - National Security Division 

### Department of State

                    - U.S. Relations with Iran
                    - International Travel Advisory and Information on Iran
                    - Information on the Arrest/Detention of a U.S. Citizen Abroad
                    - Rewards for Justice 

### Department of Treasury

                    - Iran Sanctions Advisories and Information

### Department of Commerce

                    - ﻿Iran Sanctions Information

### Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS)

                    - Iran Cyber Threat Information and Advisories

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## In the News 

Stories, speeches, testimony, and press releases that highlight the threat Iran poses to our economic and national security.

## Listing

Results: 22 Items

                          -  
02.22.2024

United States Charges Four Mariners from Arabian Sea Vessel Transporting Suspected Iranian-Made Advanced Conventional Weapons

A criminal complaint was unsealed charging four foreign nationals after U.S. naval forces interdicted a vessel in the Arabian Sea that was transporting suspected Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry.
 
                          -  
02.21.2024

Director Christopher Wray Meets With Law Enforcement and Intelligence Partners in the Czech Republic

Director Christopher Wray is in the Czech Republic this week meeting with law enforcement and intelligence partners.
 
                          -  
02.02.2024

Justice Department Announces Terrorism and Sanctions-Evasion Charges and Seizures Linked to Illicit, Billion-Dollar Global Oil Trafficking Network That Finances Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Its Malign Activities

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Leadership and others have been indicted, with more than $108 million seized, and more than 500,000 barrels of sanctioned fuel seized.
 
                          -  
01.29.2024

One Iranian and Two Canadian Nationals Indicted in Murder-for-Hire Scheme

One Iranian and two Canadian nationals have been charged with conspiracy to use interstate commerce in the commission of a murder-for-hire plot.
 
                          -  
07.10.2023

Co-Director of Think Tank Indicted for Acting as Unregistered Foreign Agent, Trafficking in Arms, Violating U.S. Sanctions Against Iran, and Making False Statements to Federal Agents

A dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who serves as the co-director of a Maryland-based think tank was indicted for allegedly engaging in multiple international criminal schemes.
 

1 - 5 of 22 ResultsShow 5 More Items

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## Wanted by the FBI 

These fugitives are wanted for a variety of crimes committed against Americans and U.S. interests, some of which occurred on behalf of Iran and proxies and partners, like Hizballah.

                          -    REZA HAMIDI RAVARI 
                          -    MAJID DASTJANI FARAHANI 
                          -    MOHAMMAD MAHDI KHANPOUR ARDESTANI 
                          -    NAJI SHARIFI ZINDASHTI 
                          -    AMIR HOSSEIN NICKAEIN RAVARI 
                          -    AHMAD KHATIBI AGHDA 
                          -    MANSOUR AHMADI 
                          -    SHAHRAM POURSAFI 
                          -    IRANIAN CYBER ACTORS 
                          -    IRANIAN INTERFERENCE IN 2020 U.S. ELECTIONS 
                          -    ALIREZA SHAHVAROGHI FARAHANI 
                          -    KIYA SADEGHI 
                          -    MAHMOUD KHAZEIN 
                          -    OMID NOORI 
                          -    SAMSAM SUBJECTS 
                          -    HOSSEIN AHMAD LARIJANI 
                          -    IRANIAN MABNA HACKERS 
                          -    IRANIAN DDoS ATTACKS 
                          -    MONICA ELFRIEDE WITT 
                          -    ALI SAED BIN ALI EL-HOORIE 
                          -    ABDELKARIM HUSSEIN MOHAMED AL-NASSER 
                          -    ALI ATWA 
                          -    HASAN IZZ-AL-DIN 
                          -    MOHAMMED ALI HAMADEI 
                          -    IBRAHIM SALIH MOHAMMED AL-YACOUB 
                          -    AHMAD IBRAHIM AL-MUGHASSIL 

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