According to the FBI and US intelligence agencies, Iranian hackers distributed hacked information about Donald Trump’s election campaign to people associated with the Biden campaign.

US officials now believe that information taken from the Trump campaign was sent in unsolicited emails to campaign associates in late June and early July – before Biden dropped out of the presidential race.

There is currently no evidence that the hackers received a response from any recipient.

In August, officials warned that Iran hoped to “sow discord” and undermine confidence in US institutions ahead of the November election.

U.S. officials said Iran used “social engineering and other efforts” to gain direct access to both the Democratic and Republican campaigns — a tactic they say both Iran and Russia have used in other countries around the world. what is

In a statement released Wednesday, the FBI said “Iranian malicious actors have continued their efforts since June to send stolen, non-public materials related to former President Trump’s campaign to U.S. media organizations”.

When contacted by the BBC, Trump campaign spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt said the hack was evidence that Iran “was meddling in the election to help Kamala Harris and Joe Biden because they know President Trump is going to impose his tough sanctions.” will restore and stand against their reign of terror.” .

He said Biden and Harris should outline what happened to the materials sent to Biden associates. “What did they know and when did they know?” Ms. Levitt questioned.

The former president commented on the hacking on Wednesday, telling supporters that “he [Iran] Gave them all the material because Biden is working with Iran.

Morgan Finkelstein, a spokeswoman for the Harris-Wallace campaign, said the campaign has cooperated with authorities since it was made aware of the hack.

“We are not aware of any content being sent directly to the campaign,” Ms. Finkelstein added. “Some individuals were targeted with their personal emails in what appeared to be spam or phishing attempts.”

Ms. Finkelstein added that she condemns “in the strongest terms” any foreign election interference efforts.

The BBC has also contacted the White House for comment.

The FBI statement added that officials are in contact with the victims of the hack and will continue to investigate in the hope of deterring and disrupting those “responsible for the threat.”

A spokesman for Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations told CBS – the US partner of the BBC – that “Iran has neither the intention nor the intention to interfere in the US elections; and therefore it clearly rejects such allegations.” rejects it”.

The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of Trump’s security, after a second apparent assassination attempt was made against him at his golf course in Florida.

Speaking to reporters earlier, Trump addressed the effort, saying “I just have to live my life”.

“You never want to be let down by crazy people out there,” he added.

After Trump was wounded by a gunman during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, US officials said the Iranian threat to Trump’s life had prompted additional security measures.

At a packed rally in New York’s Long Island on Wednesday — just a few miles from where he grew up in Queens — Trump said “God spared my life.”

“Not once, but twice,” he said to loud applause from the crowd. “There are those who say that they [God] Did this because Trump is going to turn this state around. He will turn this country around.”

Supporters at the rally told the BBC they were furious after learning of a possible second attempt after authorities say a gunman showed up at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida with a rifle when the former president. The president was playing golf.

Dina Glazer, a supporter at the rally, said she blamed Democrats and their rhetoric about Trump for the incidents.

He said the former president “needed more security, which he didn’t do”.

Michelle Masih, another supporter, said she feared Trump was in “constant danger.”

“Some people think their opinion is the most important,” he said. “But you don’t act violently on those thoughts,” he said.

The crowd at the rally erupted when Trump mentioned Springfield, Ohio, which has been rocked by unsubstantiated claims about its Haitian immigrant community. Trump faced criticism for repeating them during the presidential debates.

“Send them back!” A member of the crowd shouted from the back of the field.