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The cyber intrusions were portrayed as part of a bid by Tehran to interfere in US politics and potentially shape the outcome of the election. The assessment by the FBI and other federal agencies was the first time the US government has blamed the hacks that have rekindled the threat of foreign election interference.
US intelligence officials said on Monday they are highly confident that Iran was responsible for the hack of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The cyber intrusion was depicted as part of a plan by Tehran to interfere in American politics and potentially shape the outcome of the election. The assessment by the FBI and other federal agencies was the first time the US government has attributed blame for the hacks that have reinvigorated the threat of foreign election interference and underscored how Iran remains a top concern, besides more sophisticated adversaries such as Russia and China. In addition to the breach into the Trump campaign, officials also believe Iran may have tried to break into Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
What did the FBI claim about Iran
For the first time, the US government has blamed Iran for hacking in an assessment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other federal agencies. This has increased concerns about the threat of foreign interference in the election. The statement issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the FBI said that we have seen increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during this election cycle, including influence campaigns specifically targeting the American public and cyber operations targeting presidential campaigns.
US-Iran tensions
The FBI statement was issued at a time of significant tensions between Washington and Tehran as the US hopes to prevent or limit a threatened retaliatory strike on Israel over the killing of Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. In addition, Hezbollah’s top commander was killed in an Israeli attack in southern Beirut last month, but while Tehran and Iran-backed Hezbollah have vowed to retaliate, they have not yet launched attacks as diplomatic efforts in Qatar and Gaza ceasefire talks continue.
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