Three men allegedly connected to Iran have been charged in a hacking plot targeting former President Donald Trump’s campaign, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
The indictment reveals that the hackers, reportedly affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were involved in a broad campaign targeting several U.S. entities that included stealing information from the Trump campaign, as Fox News reports.
The three men, identified as Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi, were officially indicted after months of investigation. The indictment, which was unsealed Friday, outlines charges that include conspiracy, identity theft, and wire fraud. Federal prosecutors allege that these individuals were part of a larger effort coordinated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to disrupt and steal sensitive information from a wide array of U.S. targets.
The indictment states that the hackers used sophisticated spear phishing attacks, social engineering, and other deceptive methods to gain access to the email accounts of U.S. government officials, political figures, and media outlets. One of the central targets was the Trump campaign during the 2020 presidential election. The information obtained was allegedly shared with individuals linked to then-candidate Joe Biden's campaign as well as various media organizations.
The hacking activities reportedly ramped up in June, according to court documents. The DOJ claims that the operation was strategically timed and motivated by political and military tensions between the United States and Iran.
Sources familiar with the investigation say the hackers' motivations were linked to the Trump administration's decision to authorize a strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian military leader in January 2020. Soleimani was the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Qods Force, and his death is believed to have further escalated tensions between the two nations.
According to the indictment, the hackers face a series of federal charges, including conspiracy to obtain information from protected computers and defrauding U.S. entities. The individuals are also accused of using fraudulent domains and committing identity theft to further their hacking operations.
The indictment lists six charges in total, which range from aggravated identity theft to wire fraud. In addition to targeting Trump’s campaign, the DOJ claims that the hackers also focused on obtaining sensitive data from non-governmental organizations and media outlets, spreading it among influential figures for political purposes.
Law enforcement officials have been working to track down the perpetrators of the cyberattacks, which are believed to be part of a broader Iranian effort to disrupt U.S. politics and undermine national security.
In a separate but related matter, former President Trump was reportedly briefed last week on specific threats against his life from Iranian sources. The DOJ suggests that these threats are part of Iran’s retaliation against Trump for the Soleimani strike. Trump's campaign team has been vocal about these threats.
Steven Cheung, Trump Campaign Communications Director, expressed concern about these ongoing efforts by foreign actors. "Law enforcement officials across all agencies are working to ensure President Trump is protected and the election is free from interference,” he stated. He also described Iran’s actions as an attempt to destabilize the United States and create chaos.
The indictment of Jalili, Aghamiri, and Balaghi underscores the gravity of cyber threats to political campaigns in the U.S. The hackers allegedly targeted Trump’s campaign through spear phishing and social engineering tactics, distributing the stolen data to key figures and media outlets. The plot was reportedly motivated by Iran’s outrage over Trump’s military actions, particularly the killing of Soleimani. With several federal charges against them, the hackers face serious legal consequences.
At the same time, law enforcement and intelligence officials continue to monitor the situation closely, particularly given the specific threats against Trump’s life. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated and politically motivated, the need for secure communications in campaigns is more pressing than ever.
