Two Are Accused of Hacking U.S. Websites With Pro-Iran Messages

Two men have been indicted on charges stemming from the hacking of dozens of websites based in the United States, actions that the federal authorities said were taken in retaliation for the death in an American drone strike of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani of Iran.

The men, Behzad Mohammadzadeh and Marwan Abusrour, were charged with conspiracy to commit intentional damage to a protected computer and intentional damage to a protected computer, according to the indictment, which was dated Sept. 3 and unsealed on Tuesday.

Mr. Mohammadzadeh, a citizen of Iran who the authorities believe is about 19 years old, and Mr. Abusrour, who is about 25 and whom the indictment identifies as “a stateless national of the Palestinian Authority,” are believed to be in their home countries.

The indictment, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, did not identify or describe the approximately 51 websites that were attacked. The attacks began days after American officials announced the death of General Suleimani, Iran’s most powerful security and intelligence commander, in a drone strike at Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 2, according to the indictment.