Washington, United States – The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program has announced a bounty of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Amir Yaryab, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cyber-Electronic Command (IRGC-CEC) accused of directing malicious cyber operations against critical global infrastructure.
Targeting Critical Infrastructure and Global Commercial Sectors
According to federal officials, Yaryab oversees high-profile cyber groups responsible for launching hostile digital campaigns against strategic infrastructure across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. The compromised targets span defense industries, energy networks, financial institutions, telecommunications, and vital commercial entities including maritime shipping, aviation, media, and hospitality chains.
The Rewards for Justice advisory indicates that Yaryab leads the IRGC-CEC’s Cyber Operations Command, exercising operational oversight over subunits such as the “Hemmat” and “Shoshtari” groups. Additionally, he controls affiliated hacking entities—including “CyberAv3ngers,” “Dadeh Afzar Arman,” and “Mehrsam Andisheh Saz Nik”—which deploy specialized malware and conduct cyber-enabled influence operations targeting civilian systems worldwide.
Military Background and Diplomatic History
Holding the rank of Brigadier General within the IRGC, Yaryab possesses an operational history bridging military leadership and foreign affairs, having previously served as Iran’s military attaché to Austria and Slovakia prior to assuming command over Tehran’s cyber strike capabilities.
Ultimately, Washington’s high-stakes reward offer—coupled with confidentiality guarantees and potential relocation opportunities—aims to dismantle the leadership matrix behind Iran’s state-sponsored cyber operations. The long-term impact of this diplomatic and intelligence push will depend on Washington’s ability to penetrate IRGC networks and mitigate escalating digital risks to global critical infrastructure.
