Affiliation: RANA/MOIS
Seyed Mohammad Ghaffarian initially worked for Rana, where he developed malware used in cyber intrusions that supported the regime’s efforts to target individuals through digital attacks. He later transitioned to working at Sahab Pardaz, one of the critical arms responsible for internet filtering and censorship in Iran. His credentials include a PhD in Computer Security as well as roles as a Technical Program Manager and Big Data Engineer at Sahab. In September 2020, the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC press release highlighted the development of malicious software as a key facet of the MOIS-linked cyber operations. The announcement detailed how such cyber tools were used to suppress dissent and facilitate state-sponsored digital repression. This designation underscored the global implications of these coordinated cyber campaigns.