A U.S. grand jury has indicted three Iranian hackers for cyber espionage and hacking related to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, highlighting growing concerns over election interference by foreign powers like Iran, China, and Russia.
Hacking Ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
The three individuals are accused of collaborating with other hackers to conduct a “wide-ranging hacking operation” for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. The hackers allegedly targeted members of Trump’s campaign and stole confidential information, which they reportedly shared with journalists and individuals linked to President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign.
Cyber Espionage Tactics
Court documents reveal the use of advanced techniques like spear-phishing and social engineering to compromise the accounts of U.S. government officials and individuals associated with political campaigns. A Microsoft report in June 2024 confirmed that “Iranian hackers had sent a spear-phishing email to a high-ranking official on Donald Trump‘s presidential campaign.”
Google’s cybersecurity division also reported attempts by Iranian hackers to infiltrate President Joe Biden’s campaign in the same month. While the extent of these breaches remains unclear, Garland emphasized, “The American people, not a foreign power, decide the outcome of our country’s elections.”
US Response and Sanctions
The U.S. Treasury Department responded by imposing sanctions on seven Iranians, including one of the indicted hackers, Masoud Jalili. The sanctions also targeted staff members of Emennet Pasargad, an Iranian cybersecurity firm accused of trying to influence American voters between August and November 2020.
Bradley Smith, Treasury’s Under Secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said, “The United States Treasury remains strongly committed to holding accountable those who seek to undermine our institutions.”
Concerns About Iran’s Threat
Attorney General Garland highlighted Iran’s significant threat to U.S. national security, stating that “few actors pose as grave a threat” as the nation. Court documents show that the planning for these cyberattacks dates back to 2020, with the hackers beginning their attempts to infiltrate campaign accounts earlier this year.
Russian and Chinese Interference Allegations
The U.S. has also accused Russia and China of interfering in the election process. Both countries deny these claims, though the U.S. government has cited Russian media efforts to influence voters and China’s attempts to polarize Americans on domestic issues. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in April 2024 that the U.S. has evidence of China’s efforts to “influence and arguably interfere” with the elections.