Iran has been accused of attempting to meddle in the 2024 U.S. presidential election by sending stolen materials from Donald Trump’s campaign to individuals connected to President Joe Biden’s re-election team. According to a joint statement from the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iranian cyber actors sent these messages during the summer, aiming to disrupt the election. The emails contained non-public information from Trump’s campaign and were sent without solicitation.
The stolen material was reportedly shared with members of Biden’s campaign in late June and early July 2024. Although the recipients did not appear to respond to the emails, U.S. intelligence agencies believe the goal was to create division and confusion during the election process. Iran’s actions are part of a larger strategy to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system.
Iran’s interference did not stop with Biden’s campaign. Since June, Iranian cyber actors have also attempted to send the same stolen Trump campaign information to various U.S. media outlets. The intent, according to intelligence officials, was to spread discord and manipulate public perception as the election nears.
The FBI is closely monitoring the situation and has been in contact with those targeted by the cyberattacks. They are actively investigating the interference and are working to prevent further disruptions. U.S. authorities have emphasized that foreign actors like Iran are ramping up their influence campaigns as the election draws closer.
While Iran has been singled out in this instance, it’s not the only country attempting to interfere. U.S. officials have also pointed to Russia as a significant threat, labeling it the “preeminent” foreign actor trying to disrupt the 2024 election. Both nations are under scrutiny as the U.S. takes measures to safeguard its democratic processes.
