NYT "Iran's 'Cyber Jihad'... Biggest Threat to US Presidential Election"

Purpose to Undermine Hostile Trump Toward Iran
Utilizing IT Graduates for Intelligence Operations

With the U.S. presidential election just two months away, warnings are growing about hostile nations' cyber operations aimed at influencing the election outcome.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 4th (local time) that "Iran's disinformation campaign has emerged as the greatest threat to the U.S. election," adding, "They are intensifying attempts to undermine trust in American democracy through hacking and fake websites, seeking to gain an advantage in the conflict with former President Donald Trump."

Investigations reveal that Iran's cyber operations are carried out in a highly organized manner. According to local sources including Iranian officials, Iran has established an extensive network of operatives and hackers, some of whom operate through front companies controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Additionally, Iran commissions its tech companies and startups to promote its stance, regularly scouts universities to recruit top graduates with advanced technical skills, and trains them as intelligence operatives. These recruits are provided with high salaries, research funding, and office space.

Amir Rashidi, head of digital rights and security at the U.S.-based human rights organization Mian Group, which focuses on the Middle East, explained, "The strategy Iran adopts in information and propaganda resembles how the IRGC manages pro-Iranian armed groups across the Middle East," adding, "Iran gradually but powerfully infiltrates and engages in a long-term campaign."

Iran's organized 'cyber jihad' efforts trace back over a decade. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described cyberspace as a new frontier for jihad in 2011 and established a supreme council ordering the promotion of national interests and Islamic ideology.

Since the emergence of former President Donald Trump, who was hostile to Iran, in 2018, Iran's cyber operations have intensified. According to Microsoft (MS) and OpenAI, at least five websites suspected of being used for Iranian information operations have appeared. Among them, a site called 'NioThinker' posted content criticizing former President Trump as "an elephant fed opioid pills from a MAGA Chinese store" and "a crazy litigator." This year, Iranian operatives also succeeded in hacking the email of Roger Stone, a longtime adviser to Trump.

U.S. intelligence chief Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence (DNI), recently warned, "Iran seeks to sow discord and undermine trust in democratic institutions in the U.S.," adding, "It is becoming increasingly aggressive in exerting foreign influence." Clint Watts, head of Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center, also pointed out in a report last month that Iran might incite violence against politicians and groups to cast doubt on the results of this year's U.S. election.