US Charges Three Iranian Hackers for Targeting Trump Campaign
The US Justice Department announced Friday that it has charged three Iranian hackers for targeting former President Donald Trump’s campaign and American officials. Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed at a news conference that there has been an increase in aggressive Iranian cyber activity leading up to the November presidential race.
Garland stated, “The Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging three hackers working for the Iranian government with material support for terrorism, computer fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft for their roles in these cyber attacks.” The hackers, identified as Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi, were residing in Iran and working to undermine President Trump’s campaign in advance of the 2024 US presidential election.
Garland emphasized the commitment of the Justice Department to counter the threats posed by Iran to US democracy, national security, and international allies. He reiterated that foreign interference in US elections will not be tolerated and that efforts to disrupt the democratic system will be countered.
As the election approaches, the Justice Department, along with federal partners, will utilize all available tools to combat the cyber activities of Iran, Russia, and China in exploiting the US government system.