Hacking of U.S. Officials and a Presidential Campaign

Three IRGC employees were charged with breaking into accounts of current and former U.S. officials and campaign staff, and leaking stolen campaign material.

Two dark metal doors under a nameplate in Farsi, beside a column of door buzzers — Image Three in the indictment. Prosecutors say the Farsi nameplate above the left door matches the name on the Respina Networks contract that Jalili entered into for static IP addresses. ⁠Photo: U.S. Department of Justice, indictment, United States v. Jalili et al., D.D.C. 1:24-cr-00439, p. 8.

Iran's Role, in the Government's Words

“Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) employees”

U.S. Department of Justice Three IRGC Cyber Actors Indicted for ‘Hack-and-Leak’ Operation Designed to Influence the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, press release, September 27, 2024, para. 2, justice.gov.

People Charged

Photograph: FBI
Masoud JaliliAt largesince Sep. 25, 2024 “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) employees”Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sep. 25, 2024
Seyyed Ali AghamiriAt largesince Sep. 25, 2024 “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) employees”Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sep. 25, 2024
Yaser BalaghiAt largesince Sep. 25, 2024 “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) employees”Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sep. 25, 2024

Targets

current and former U.S. officials and campaign staff

Private people are described, never named. A target is named only if a public figure who has spoken publicly about the plot.