U.S. intelligence agencies have revealed that Iranian cyber actors attempted to influence the upcoming November 5, 2024, presidential election by distributing stolen material from Donald Trump's campaign to individuals associated with Joe Biden's former re-election bid. This information was disclosed in a joint statement by the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence on September 18, 2024.
The agencies reported that these cyber activities occurred during the summer of 2024, with malicious actors sending unsolicited emails containing excerpts of stolen material to Biden campaign members in late June and early July. This revelation comes amidst growing concerns about foreign interference in U.S. elections, a issue that has been prominent since the 2016 presidential race.
Iran's cyber capabilities have significantly expanded over the past decade, with the country now considered among the top-tier global cyber powers alongside Russia and China. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is believed to be the primary force behind many of Iran's cyber operations, which often align with the country's geopolitical objectives and tensions with Western nations.
"Furthermore, Iranian malicious cyber actors have continued their efforts since June to send stolen, non-public material associated with former President Trump's campaign to U.S. media organizations"
This latest incident is not isolated, as U.S. authorities had previously accused Iran of launching cyber operations against both major U.S. presidential campaigns in August 2024. The country has a history of cyber activities dating back to 2007, including alleged attacks on U.S. infrastructure, banks, and government agencies.
It's worth noting that Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race on July 21, 2024, with Vice President Kamala Harris subsequently becoming the Democratic candidate. A spokesperson for the Harris campaign stated that they were unaware of any material sent directly to the campaign, but acknowledged that some individuals received suspicious emails on their personal accounts.
The U.S. has taken measures against Iran's cyber activities in the past, including imposing sanctions in 2019. Additionally, the U.S. Cyber Command has conducted operations targeting Iranian cyber actors. Despite these efforts, Iran continues to be linked to various cyber operations, including disinformation campaigns on social media platforms and ransomware attacks on global organizations.
Iran has consistently denied interfering in U.S. elections. As of the time of reporting, Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations in New York had not responded to requests for comment on these latest allegations.