Trump Campaign Alleges Iranian Hackers Breached Internal Communications

Donald Trump’s campaign has revealed that some of its internal communications were hacked, hinting at Iranian involvement in the breach. The campaign’s announcement followed a report by Politico on Saturday, which stated that it had received emails containing campaign documents, including internal research on Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.

While the campaign did not provide specific details or concrete evidence linking the leak to Iranian hackers, it came just a day after Microsoft released a report indicating that Iranian operatives had targeted a US presidential candidate’s campaign in June. According to Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center (MTAC), the campaign was targeted with a spear-phishing email—a tactic designed to deceive recipients into clicking on malicious links.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung highlighted the timing of the June hacking attempt, suggesting it coincided with the selection of Trump’s vice-presidential nominee. He claimed that the Iranian operatives were aware of Trump’s potential to challenge their influence, just as he did during his previous term.

Politico also noted that in late July, it began receiving emails from an individual using an AOL email account, identifying themselves as “Robert.” The emails included a 271-page file on Vance and a portion of a research document on Florida Senator Marco Rubio, another vice-presidential contender.

Microsoft’s report further emphasized that Iranian cyber-influence operations have been a consistent feature in recent US elections, with similar activities observed during the 2020 election cycle.