In a concerning development, Iran has been identified as stepping up its efforts to influence Americans ahead of the upcoming presidential election, joining the ranks of Russia and China. According to a new report by researchers at Microsoft, Iranian-backed websites have been targeting U.S. voters from both the political left and right.

Microsoft researchers pinpointed several websites that they attributed to the Iranian operation. One such site, Nio Thinker, presents itself as a progressive news source challenging the status quo. It features articles criticizing former President Donald Trump while praising Vice President Kamala Harris as an unexpected savior. Another website, Savannah Time, pretends to be a conservative local alt-weekly, hosting articles that advocate for more modest Olympics beach volleyball bathing suits alongside content lauding Iran's military strength.

Experts at the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center revealed that these websites are likely utilizing artificial intelligence tools to extract content from legitimate U.S. news publications and repackage it in a way that conceals its true source. This sophisticated technique aims to mislead readers and amplify the sites' influence.

The researchers further disclosed that the group behind these websites is part of a larger Iranian operation, which has been active since 2020. This campaign includes over a dozen other fake news sites targeting audiences who speak English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. While the researchers noted that the campaign has not gained significant traction with U.S. audiences so far, they warn that the sites could play a potentially influential role as the election draws closer.

Aside from these propaganda efforts, researchers also uncovered another alarming aspect of Iran's meddling. Specifically, a group linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted to target a high-ranking official on a presidential campaign and a former presidential candidate through spear-phishing emails. The Microsoft report did not disclose the identities of these individuals.

Iran's United Nations mission denied the reports of its meddling, stating that the country's cyber capabilities are defensive and proportionate to the threats it faces. The mission emphasized that Iran has no intention of launching cyber attacks or interfering in the U.S. presidential election, characterizing it as an internal matter.

However, Microsoft's report also highlights ongoing activities by Russia and China. Russia's Storm-1516, a group known for producing propaganda videos in support of former President Trump and Russian interests, has been distributing these videos through a network of fake news websites linked to a former U.S. police officer. Meanwhile, China-linked actors have shifted their focus to spreading propaganda through video content and leveraging online accounts to fuel outrage surrounding pro-Palestinian university protests.

The researchers anticipate that Iran, along with Russia and China, will intensify cyberattacks against candidates and institutions and escalate their efforts to divide Americans using propaganda and disinformation in the lead-up to the election. As the U.S. prepares for the 2024 presidential election, it becomes crucial to remain vigilant against these foreign influence campaigns and safeguard the democratic process.