Iran attempting to harm Trump campaign, while Russia is supporting it, US officials say.
Iran has launched a new influence campaign aimed at undermining the candidacy of former President Donald Trump, according to U.S. officials. This move is seen as a retaliation for a similar effort in the 2020 election that was believed to be authorized by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The latest update came during a joint election security briefing held by officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, 99 days before the upcoming Election Day. This briefing is part of a series of updates that will be provided leading up to the election, with officials choosing to remain anonymous in order to discuss sensitive assessments.
A senior ODNI official stated, “Since our last update, the [intelligence community] has observed Tehran working to influence the presidential election, probably because Iranian leaders want to avoid an outcome they perceive would increase tensions with the United States.” The official added that Iran’s preference is to avoid escalating tensions with the U.S., hence opposing a candidate who they believe would lead to such a scenario.
While the officials did not explicitly mention the Trump campaign, they referred to the key findings of the 2020 assessment and highlighted Iran’s online activities focused on sowing chaos and creating societal divisions, including around the conflict in Gaza. They revealed that Iran relies on a vast network of internet personas for these activities.
Specific details about Iran’s involvement in Gaza-related protests in the U.S. were not disclosed during the briefing. However, a statement from Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines in July confirmed that actors associated with Iran’s government were posing as activists online to encourage protests and even offering financial support to protesters.
It was also mentioned that Iran’s efforts to undermine the Trump campaign are currently conflicting with Russia’s attempts to influence the election in Trump’s favor. Despite the growing ties between Iran and Russia, especially during the Ukraine conflict, U.S. officials have reiterated that Russia is working to support Trump’s candidacy, as seen in the past elections.
On the other hand, China, while capable of conducting similar influence campaigns, is not believed to interfere in the presidential race due to concerns about damaging its relationship with the U.S. However, there are concerns that actors linked to China might target down-ballot candidates. Foreign actors, including Russia and China, are increasingly using commercial marketing and public relations firms to conceal their involvement in influence operations.
Overall, foreign countries are strategically leveraging the trust that Americans have in their fellow citizens to propagate narratives that align with their interests. U.S. officials are closely monitoring these activities and working to counter foreign influence in the upcoming election.
As the election season progresses, it is crucial for American citizens to remain vigilant against foreign attempts to interfere in the democratic process. By staying informed and discerning online content, voters can help safeguard the integrity of the election and protect the country’s democratic values.
