The FBI has launched an investigation into reports suggesting that hackers, potentially linked to Iran, may have targeted former President Donald Trump’s campaign. According to a report from Microsoft’s cyber threat assessment office on August 9, a group known as “Mint Sandstorm” used spear-phishing emails to target a high-ranking official in an unspecified U.S. presidential campaign in June. The report also stated that Mint Sandstorm, believed by Microsoft to be connected to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), attempted to log into an account belonging to a former presidential candidate.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed on August 10 that it was Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign that was being targeted in the cyber intrusion effort. The FBI has since confirmed that it is currently investigating the alleged hacking attack but provided no further comment on the matter.
Cheung did not provide specific evidence of this hacking operation targeting the Trump campaign but highlighted its coincidence with recent reports of Iran targeting Trump himself due to his order for a drone strike in January 2020 that killed IRGC Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
When asked about whether the Trump campaign had been in contact with Microsoft or law enforcement regarding these cybersecurity claims, Cheung declined to comment. Politico reported receiving communication from an individual named “Robert,” who claimed possession of internal communications from a senior Trump campaign official and shared documents including a research dossier on Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who was chosen as Trump’s running mate last month.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence released an intelligence community assessment last month stating that Iranian groups are actively working towards fueling distrust towards U.S. institutions and increasing social discord through disinformation campaigns online. The report also mentioned Tehran’s efforts to influence the presidential election, likely motivated by their desire to avoid escalating tensions with the United States.
The Iranian mission at the United Nations has denied any involvement in cyber breaches targeting the Trump campaign and instead claims they are themselves victims of cyberattacks while using their cyber capabilities for defense purposes and proportionate responses against attacks they face.