The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) announced formal charges on Tuesday against 17 individuals affiliated with the Mabna Institute, an organization based in Iran. According to federal prosecutors, the defendants engaged in a sophisticated and widespread cyber espionage campaign. The DoJ alleges that these activities were carried out on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other state-linked entities.

Prosecutors claim the hacking campaign targeted more than 100,000 accounts belonging to university professors and researchers across the globe. The scope of the alleged data theft is significant, with officials stating that the group successfully exfiltrated over 31 terabytes of academic and intellectual property. The indictment suggests that the stolen information was intended to benefit the Iranian government’s strategic interests.

While the DoJ has provided details regarding the scale of the operation and the specific targets involved, the defendants remain at large. The charges represent a significant escalation in the US government's efforts to hold foreign entities accountable for state-sponsored cyber activity. As of now, there has been no public response from the Mabna Institute or the Iranian government regarding these specific allegations. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran regarding digital security and the protection of intellectual property in academic institutions.