Montenegro Police, FBI Arrest Iranian Suspect for $3.4B US Hacking Attacks
Details of the Arrest and Allegations
Suspect’s Identity and Charges
BELGRADE, June 26 (Reuters) - Montenegrin police and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested an Iranian national suspected of hacking attacks that damaged U.S. infrastructure to the tune of $3.4 billion, Montenegrin police said.
The 39-year-old man, with dual Iranian and Turkish citizenship, is sought by the Southern District Court in New York on charges including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, hacking, and identity theft.
Location and Circumstances of Arrest
He was arrested in the Adriatic coastal resort of Kotor, Montenegro’s police directorate said on Thursday.
Scope and Impact of the Hacking Attacks
"From 2013 onward, ... he carried out massive hacking attacks ... targeting more than 150 universities in the United States, causing damage estimated at over $3.4 billion," it added in a statement.
Legal Proceedings and Extradition
Next Steps in Montenegro
The case will now go to a High Court judge in Montenegro’s capital of Podgorica for extradition proceedings, the police added.
Beneficiaries of the Hacked Data
The acquired data, as well as access to compromised university accounts, were used for the benefit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian entities, including universities, it said.
Reactions and Broader Context
FBI Response
The FBI was not immediately available for comment.
History of Iranian Cyber Operations
Iran and the IRGC have a long history of state-sponsored cyber operations targeting the United States, often linked to IRGC.
Recent Warnings from U.S. Agencies
In April, U.S. cybersecurity, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies warned about an escalation of Iranian hacking campaigns targeting equipment across critical U.S. infrastructure.
(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
