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US intelligence official suggests Iran undermining Trump in election race: Report

US intelligence official suggests Iran undermining Trump in election race: Report

Official did not name Trump but said Islamic Republic repeating its actions from 2020 elections

MEE staff

Tue, 07/30/2024 – 19:18

Former President Donald Trump speaks in Minnesota, on 28 July 2024 (Alex Wrobrewski/AFP)

US intelligence officials have suggested that Iran is working to sow societal unrest and undermine Donald Trump’s second bid for the presidency, The Washington Post reported.

A senior official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), who remained anonymous according to intelligence agency protocols, did not name Trump but said that Iran is repeating its actions from the 2020 elections. The disclosure was made during a briefing for reporters by the ODNI. 

Officials say that four years ago Iran sought to undermine Trump to avoid further worsening relations with the US, but did not actively promote the alternative candidate, Joe Biden. It is unclear whether Iran will promote Kamala Harris.

In 2020, Trump authorised a drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, and Iran in turn issued an arrest warrant for Trump.

Earlier this month, US intelligence found an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump and increased his Secret Service detail. The plot appears unrelated to the gunman that wounded Trump at a rally.

The Iranian online personas that spread disinformation focus on “stoking chaos and divisions” rather than election interference, the ODNI official said.

While Iran seeks to undermine Trump, Russia is working to support the former president just as it had in 2020 because a Republican president will be less supportive of Ukraine. China probably does not plan to interfere, officials said.

The Washington Post did not report whether or not the intelligence officials presented any evidence to back their claims. 

“Officials also noted that the US government has not detected any foreign hacking, interference or tampering with election machines and websites, though officials have seen efforts to ‘scan’ such networks,” the Post added.

The findings come weeks after a statement by US director of national intelligence Avril Haines that said Iranian agents “opportunistically take advantage of” Gaza protests.

The agents posed as activists online, sought to encourage protests and provided financial support to protesters, Haines said.

The director continued: “I want to be clear that I know Americans who participate in protests are, in good faith, expressing their views on the conflict in Gaza – this intelligence does not indicate otherwise.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called pro-Palestine protesters “Iran’s useful idiots” in a recent controversial address to Congress riddled with false claims.

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US intelligence official suggests Iran undermining Trump in election race: Report

US intelligence official suggests Iran undermining Trump in election race: Report

Official did not name Trump but said Islamic Republic repeating its actions from 2020 elections

MEE staff

Tue, 07/30/2024 – 19:18

Former President Donald Trump speaks in Minnesota, on 28 July 2024 (Alex Wrobrewski/AFP)

US intelligence officials have suggested that Iran is working to sow societal unrest and undermine Donald Trump’s second bid for the presidency, The Washington Post reported.

A senior official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), who remained anonymous according to intelligence agency protocols, did not name Trump but said that Iran is repeating its actions from the 2020 elections. The disclosure was made during a briefing for reporters by the ODNI. 

Officials say that four years ago Iran sought to undermine Trump to avoid further worsening relations with the US, but did not actively promote the alternative candidate, Joe Biden. It is unclear whether Iran will promote Kamala Harris.

In 2020, Trump authorised a drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, and Iran in turn issued an arrest warrant for Trump.

Earlier this month, US intelligence found an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump and increased his Secret Service detail. The plot appears unrelated to the gunman that wounded Trump at a rally.

The Iranian online personas that spread disinformation focus on “stoking chaos and divisions” rather than election interference, the ODNI official said.

While Iran seeks to undermine Trump, Russia is working to support the former president just as it had in 2020 because a Republican president will be less supportive of Ukraine. China probably does not plan to interfere, officials said.

The Washington Post did not report whether or not the intelligence officials presented any evidence to back their claims. 

“Officials also noted that the US government has not detected any foreign hacking, interference or tampering with election machines and websites, though officials have seen efforts to ‘scan’ such networks,” the Post added.

The findings come weeks after a statement by US director of national intelligence Avril Haines that said Iranian agents “opportunistically take advantage of” Gaza protests.

The agents posed as activists online, sought to encourage protests and provided financial support to protesters, Haines said.

The director continued: “I want to be clear that I know Americans who participate in protests are, in good faith, expressing their views on the conflict in Gaza – this intelligence does not indicate otherwise.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called pro-Palestine protesters “Iran’s useful idiots” in a recent controversial address to Congress riddled with false claims.

Read More
News

Israel Bombs Beirut, Claims It Targeted a Senior Hezbollah Commander

An Israeli airstrike targeted the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, a step that could escalate the Israel-Hezbollah conflict into a full-blown war.

Israel claimed that it targeted a senior Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, but there’s been no confirmation from Hezbollah. Unverified reports say two people were killed in the strike, but details aren’t clear.

The Israeli military claimed Shukr was responsible for the rocket that killed 12 Druze children in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday. Hezbollah denied responsibility for the killing of the children and has said they were hit by an Israeli air defense rocket.

According to Al Jazeera, Hezbollah has warned that if Israel launched a strike deep into Lebanese territory, it would mean “all rules of war” are off. The last time Israel bombed Beirut was on January 2, when the Israeli military launched a drone strike that targeted a senior Hamas official.

Media reports said the US was warning Israel against targeting Beirut, but the US is still providing unconditional military aid and not using any of its leverage to rein in Israel. The US has also previously ensured it would back Israel in a full-blown war in Lebanon.

Since October 7, Israel and Hezbollah have been trading strikes across the border almost every day. According to an AFP tally, Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon have killed at least 527 people, including 104 children. On the Israeli side, 18 soldiers and 24 civilians have been killed, a total that includes the 12 Druze children.

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