U.S. Official: Iran Has Become More Active in Influencing This U.S. Election Cycle

A senior U.S. intelligence official stated that Iran has intensified its efforts to influence American voters ahead of the presidential and congressional elections in the United States. According to this official, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been more active in this cycle compared to previous ones. The official, whose name was not mentioned by Reuters, also identified Russia as the most active foreign adversary of the United States, attempting to influence the presidential election on November 5, while China is more focused on influencing other elections. This U.S. official said on Friday, September 6, during a briefing with reporters that U.S. intelligence agencies are increasing confidential warnings to individuals targeted by foreign influence operations. Previously, in late May, Avril Haines, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, stated in a Senate meeting that Russia, China, and Iran are trying to influence the U.S. presidential election in November 2024. She emphasized that these foreign countries are increasingly using private companies as a cover for conducting influence operations in U.S. elections, making it harder to track the main actors behind such actions. According to Haines, Iran's efforts to undermine the competitive political environment in the United States are 'highly aggressive,' and she suggested that the Islamic Republic may be using its intelligence services and online influencers based in Iran to advance these actions. Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence and security agencies have accused Moscow in recent months of attempting to influence the elections through the dissemination of false information, and the Biden administration has announced that it is implementing a broad range of measures to prevent Russian influence on the elections. However, the briefing by the U.S. official with reporters came after the announcement of money laundering charges on Wednesday against two employees of the state media network RT. The U.S. government stated that charges have been filed against these two RT employees, and the FBI is seizing dozens of internet domains used by the Kremlin to spread 'disinformation.' The U.S. Department of Justice has accused the two employees of using shell companies and fake identities to pay a company in Tennessee $10 million to produce videos aimed at exacerbating political divisions in the United States. The U.S. Departments of Treasury and State have also announced actions against this network and its senior editor, imposing sanctions on them. Additionally, Merrick Garland, the U.S. Attorney General, has accused Russian state media of participating in a campaign to spread false information and propaganda. A U.S. intelligence official had previously told Reuters that Moscow and Tehran are reverting to strategies from previous years to influence the U.S. elections, with the Islamic Republic trying to undermine the Republican ticket while the Kremlin aims to tarnish the Democrats. However, Iran's mission to the United Nations stated that 'Iran has no intention or activity to influence U.S. elections' and considered much of these accusations as part of a 'psychological operation to falsely energize election campaigns.'