FBI probes Trump campaign hacking claims amid White House caution

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into the alleged hacking of Donald Trump's campaign systems by Iranian hackers. Meanwhile, the White House has stated that it cannot confirm Iran was behind the attack.

The FBI confirmed that it has begun investigating the suspected Iranian cyberattack in a brief statement sent to Reuters without providing further details.

When asked about the matter on Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that he could not yet confirm reports from the Trump campaign about the Iranian cyberattack. He emphasised that according to US intelligence assessments, Iran indeed intends to interfere in American elections, just as it did in previous campaigns.

According to a report from US intelligence in July, Iran's goal is both to sow chaos and increase divisions, as well as to harm Donald Trump's campaign. CNN and other media outlets, citing intelligence sources, also reported that Tehran had plans to assassinate Trump.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said that Trump's campaign had fallen victim to an Iranian cyberattack a day after Microsoft reported on Friday the discovery of an attempt by hackers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to hack into the account of a high-ranking official from one of the campaign staff.

Microsoft did not specify whether the attack was successful. Still, Politico and the "Washington Post" reported that they had received files belonging to the Trump campaign, including a 271-page report describing weaknesses and negative information about vice-presidential candidate JD Vance from an unknown person claiming to be a campaign member named Robert. Sources within the Trump campaign confirmed the document's authenticity.