The United States has accused Iran of conducting cyber attacks against both US presidential campaigns and engaging in influence operations aimed at deepening political discord among the American public.
In a joint statement, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed that Iranian cyber activities have escalated during the current election cycle. The statement follows allegations from Republican nominee Donald Trump’s campaign, which reported an Iranian hack on one of its websites, prompting an FBI investigation. The attack, according to Trump, only accessed publicly available information.
The US also noted that Iran has targeted the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. In response, Iran’s mission to the United Nations dismissed the allegations as “unsubstantiated,” denying any intention to interfere in the US election.
The US intelligence community asserts that Iranian operatives used social engineering tactics to gain access to individuals connected to both presidential campaigns. These actions included thefts and disclosures intended to influence the US election process. This accusation follows similar claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election, where Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton.
