US State Department offers $10M reward for tips on Iranian hackers

The US State Department is putting a $10 million price tag on information about Iranian hackers who have been conducting cyber operations against American targets. The bounty, issued through the long-running Rewards for Justice program, zeroes in on individuals tied to two groups: Handala and Parsian Afzar Rayan Borna. Who’s being targeted The two groups, Handala and Parsian Afzar Rayan Borna, have been linked to Iranian state interests, including connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). Handala has publicly claimed responsibility for cyber intrusions targeting entities including the FBI as recently as 2026. The Rewards for Justice program allows tipsters to submit information through anonymous channels, including Tor-based reporting systems. In some cases, the program has also offered relocation options for informants. A pattern of escalation This isn’t the first time the State Department has dangled eight-figure bounties for Iranian-linked hackers. In 2025, a similar $10 million reward was issued for hackers connected to a group known as CyberAv3ngers, targeting actors who had gone after US critical infrastr...