Trump Campaign Claims Cyber Hack by Iranian Actors

Trump Campaign Claims Hack Involving Iranian Actors

On Saturday, the presidential campaign of former President Donald Trump announced that it had been the victim of a cyber hack, suggesting that Iranian actors were behind the theft and distribution of sensitive documents. While the campaign did not provide concrete evidence linking Iran to the incident, the allegation surfaced just a day after Microsoft released a report that detailed various foreign attempts to meddle in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.

The Microsoft report highlighted a specific case in which Iranian military intelligence allegedly sent a spear-phishing email to a senior official within a presidential campaign, using a compromised email account belonging to a former advisor. This revelation raised concerns about the extent of foreign interference in the electoral process.

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, attributed the hack to “foreign sources hostile to the United States,” emphasizing the potential threat posed by international adversaries.

In response to the claims made by Trump’s campaign, a spokesperson for the National Security Council stated that the government takes any reports of foreign interference “extremely seriously.” They condemned any attempts that seek to undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions.

When pressed for comments regarding the allegations, representatives from Iran’s mission to the United Nations firmly denied any involvement. “We do not accord any credence to such reports,” they asserted, adding, “The Iranian government neither possesses nor harbors any intent or motive to interfere in the United States presidential election.”

Despite these denials, Iran has previously been suspected of orchestrating hacking campaigns aimed at its adversaries both in the Middle East and beyond, raising concerns about the nation’s capabilities and intentions in the realm of cyber warfare.