Intelligence agencies in the United States have accused Iran of orchestrating hacking attempts aimed at disrupting the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Joe Biden-Kamala Harris. On Monday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with other intelligence organizations, confirmed Iran’s alleged involvement in these cyber intrusions. Reports recently surfaced indicating that the FBI informed former President Trump following media reports regarding leaked documents from a senior official within his campaign.
The Biden-Harris campaign has indicated that the attempts to hack into their systems were ultimately unsuccessful. In their statements, the FBI emphasized that Iran, along with Russia, has a history of employing similar tactics during electoral cycles in both the United States and globally.
The aggressive interference from Iran observed in 2020 took U.S. officials by surprise, culminating in threats directed towards electoral personnel. While the element of surprise may be diminished in the 2024 election cycle, officials affirm that Iran continues its efforts to disrupt the electoral process. In a joint statement, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) outlined ongoing Iranian attempts to interfere in the upcoming United States elections.
The agencies noted the sophistication of these cyber attacks, stating, “The intelligence community is confident that the Iranians have attempted, through social engineering and other methods, to gain access to individuals directly associated with both presidential campaigns. Such activities are intended to influence the electoral process in the United States.”
This situation underscores the persistent threat posed by foreign interference in U.S. elections and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding the democratic process.
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