# Extradition of Iranian hacker Amir Barati to the US

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/extradition-of-iranian-hacker-amir-barati-to-the-us
> Updated: 2026-10-01T16:49:56.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

Amir Barati, a 40-year-old dual citizen of Iran and Turkey, has been extradited from Montenegro to the United States to face charges related to a massive cyber espionage campaign. Barati was arrested in Kotor in June following a request from the FBI.

Prosecutors allege the operation, conducted through the Tehran-based Mabna Institute on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), began in 2013. The campaign reportedly breached approximately 8,000 professor email accounts and targeted 144 American universities, 42 U.S. companies, and 178 foreign universities. The theft of academic journals, research, scientific papers, and dissertations is estimated to have caused damages exceeding $3.4 billion, involving at least 31.5 terabytes of stolen data.

Barati faces charges including wire and computer fraud, conspiracy, and identity theft. He is expected to be prosecuted in the U.S. Southern District of New York. The indictment also names 16 other Iranian nationals involved in the conspiracy.

## Claims

- Amir Barati is accused of participating in a yearslong hacking campaign that began in 2013. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The hacking campaign targeted data worth over $3 billion. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The campaign breached 144 American universities and 42 U.S. companies. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The hacking group allegedly operated on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The group allegedly used the Mabna Institute to conduct its operations. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The hackers breached approximately 8,000 email accounts belonging to professors. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Amir Barati is a 40-year-old citizen of Iran and Turkey. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Barati was arrested in Montenegro following an FBI request. (corroborated by 8 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-01: Amir Barati extradited to U.S. for $3.4 billion hacking campaign

Amir Barati, an Iranian-Turkish national, has been extradited from Montenegro to the U.S. for his alleged role in a $3.4 billion cyberattack campaign targeting universities and companies.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/amir-barati-extradited-to-us-for-3-billion-hacking-scheme

### 2026-09-22: Montenegro to extradite Iranian hacker Amir Barati to the United States

Montenegro's High Court has approved the extradition of Iranian hacker Amir Barati to the U.S. to face charges for cyberattacks causing $3.4 billion in damages to American universities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/montenegro-to-extradite-iranian-hacker-amir-barati-to-the-united-states

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Cite as: Extradition of Iranian hacker Amir Barati to the US. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/extradition-of-iranian-hacker-amir-barati-to-the-us