Top Iranian Cybercriminal on FBI Most Wanted List Reportedly Killed in US-Israeli Strike

Mohammad Mehdi Farhadi Ramin was accused of stealing US identities and sensitive data.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A top Iranian hacker long wanted by the FBI was killed last week following a joint Israeli strike on Iran, according to an Iranian media outlet. Mohammad Mehdi Farhadi Ramin, an Iranian man accused of stealing the identities of American citizens and accessing national security data, died in the city of Hamadan, Iran International said, adding that his funeral was held on Monday.

Why it matters

Farhadi had been wanted by US authorities since 2020 for his alleged involvement in malicious cyber activity dating back to at least 2013, including targeting companies, universities, US defense contractors, and nonprofits to access sensitive data. Authorities say he also stole credit card information and Social Security numbers belonging to US citizens to fund illicit activities, while marketing some of the stolen data on the black market.

The details

Ramin was first indicted on Sept. 15, 2020, by a federal grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, for his alleged involvement in a massive, coordinated cyber intrusion campaign on behalf of the Iranian government. Ramin and a co-defendant reportedly vandalized websites with ideological messaging meant to project Iranian influence, including images of burning Israeli flags and threats that appeared to "signal the demise" of countries viewed as rivals to Iran, including the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Authorities alleged that the suspect also compromised email accounts by creating hidden automated forwarding rules that secretly sent all incoming and outgoing emails directly to him and his co-conspirators.

  • Farhadi had been wanted by US authorities since 2020.
  • Ramin was first indicted on Sept. 15, 2020, by a federal grand jury in Newark, New Jersey.
  • Farhadi was killed last week following a joint Israeli strike on Iran.

The players

Mohammad Mehdi Farhadi Ramin

A top Iranian hacker accused of stealing the identities of American citizens and accessing national security data.

FBI

The US federal law enforcement agency that had Farhadi on its most wanted list.

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What they’re saying

“They brazenly infiltrated computer systems and targeted intellectual property and often sought to intimidate perceived enemies of Iran, including dissidents fighting for human rights in Iran and around the world.”

— Justice Department (Justice Department statement)

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing threat of Iranian cybercriminals targeting US national security and private sector data, as well as the importance of international cooperation to disrupt these malicious activities.