Iran is intensifying its influence campaign targeting the U.S., according to a new Microsoft report, adding to efforts by Russia and China to shape American public opinion before the presidential election.
Researchers found websites linked to the Iranian operation aimed at both left- and right-leaning voters. One site, Nio Thinker, presents itself as a source of progressive news and publishes articles critical of President Trump and supportive of Kamala Harris. Another site, Savannah Time, masquerades as a conservative alt-weekly, featuring articles on modesty in sports and Iran's military strength.
The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center believes these sites use artificial intelligence to repurpose content from legitimate U.S. news sources, obscuring the origins of the articles. The Iranian operation, active since 2020, operates over a dozen fake news sites in multiple languages. Although these sites have not gained significant traction in the U.S., they could become more active closer to the election.
Additionally, a group linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a “high-ranking official on a presidential campaign” with a spear-phishing email and attempted to access the account of a former presidential candidate. The report did not name the individuals targeted.
Iran's U.N. mission denied allegations of election interference, stating that Iran's cyber capabilities are defensive and proportional to the threats it faces.
Microsoft's report also highlighted ongoing Russian activity, including the Storm-1516 group's production of pro-Trump propaganda videos, and noted China's shift toward spreading propaganda through video and stoking outrage around pro-Palestinian protests. The report anticipates increased cyberattacks and propaganda efforts from Iran, China, and Russia as the election approaches.
