{"id":2316096,"date":"2024-07-30T14:50:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T18:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-aggressively-trying-to-undermine-trumps-presidential-run-intel-officials-admit\/"},"modified":"2024-07-30T14:53:24","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T18:53:24","slug":"iran-aggressively-trying-to-undermine-trumps-presidential-run-intel-officials-admit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-aggressively-trying-to-undermine-trumps-presidential-run-intel-officials-admit\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran Aggressively Trying to Undermine Trump&#8217;s Presidential Run, Intel Officials Admit"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Firan-aggressively-trying-to-undermine-trumps-presidential-run-intel-officials-admit%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2316096&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses Iran&#8217;s ongoing efforts to interfere with U.S. elections, specifically highlighting concerns raised by Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence.\u200c Haines indicated that Iran has been increasingly aggressive in its foreign influence tactics,\u200c aiming to sow discord and undermine the credibility of\u200b American democratic institutions. The concern is particularly heightened in the context of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-appears-to-be-a-popular-lead-for-2024-straw-poll-shows\/\" title=\"DeSantis Appears To Be A Popular Lead For 2024, Straw Poll Shows\">upcoming 2024 presidential election<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iran has been actively involved in influencing the election,\u200c likely to avoid an outcome that could escalate tensions \u200dwith the United States. The Iranian government reportedly uses sophisticated online campaigns and\u2062 social media platforms to spread\u2062 disinformation\u200b and exacerbate \u200bdivisions, particularly regarding issues such as\u2064 the Israel-Gaza conflict.<\/p>\n<p>The article notes that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cbs-news-dragged-for-downplaying-massacre-of-israeli-civilians\/\" title=\"CBS &#039;News&#039; criticized for minimizing Israeli civilian massacre.\">mainstream media\u2063 outlets<\/a>, including Fox News and CNN, have \u2062interpreted the intelligence findings as evidence of Iran&#8217;s\u2063 intent \u200dto undermine former President Donald Trump&#8217;s election campaign. The\u2062 article suggests that Iran&#8217;s animosity towards Trump stems from his hardline stance on nuclear issues, which contrasts with the perceived leniency of President Joe \u2062Biden&#8217;s administration.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the\u200c author emphasizes the \u200dsignificance of Iran&#8217;s activities and what they may imply about U.S. foreign relations, particularly as voters approach the elections.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>It goes without saying that Iran is no friend of America&rsquo;s.<\/p>\n<p>The despotic Middle East power has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/obama-admin-actively-interfered-fbi-efforts-arrest-individuals-illegally-aiding-irans-nuclear-program-documents-show\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a thorn<\/a> in America&rsquo;s geopolitical side for decades now &mdash; and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-secret-service-agent-discusses-assassination-attempt\/\" title=\"Ex-Secret Service Agent Discusses Assassination Attempt\">things don&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t look to be getting any better, if new reports are to be believed.<\/p>\n<p>On July 9, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines put out a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dni.gov\/index.php\/newsroom\/press-releases\/press-releases-2024\/3842-statement-from-director-of-national-intelligence-avril-haines-on-recent-iranian-influence-efforts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> voicing concern about Iran&rsquo;s ability to influence the forthcoming 2024 general election. Haines noted that this concern dates back even further.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As I noted in testimony to the Congress in May, Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive in their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-california-democrat-and-think-tank-titans-slated-to-attend-chinese-communist-diplomacy-event\/\" title=\"Top California Democrat and Think-Tank Titans Slated to Attend Chinese Communist Diplomacy Event\">foreign influence efforts<\/a>, seeking to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions, as we have seen them do in the past, including in prior election cycles,&rdquo; Haines posited then. &ldquo;They continue to adapt their cyber and influence activities, using social media platforms and issuing threats.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is likely they will continue to rely on their intelligence services in these efforts, as well as Iran-based online influencers, to promote their narratives.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Fast forward to today, and it&rsquo;s clear that Iran&rsquo;s efforts have only increased.<\/p>\n<p>The Office of the Director of National Intelligence put out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.odni.gov\/files\/FMIC\/documents\/ODNI-Election-Security-Update-20240729.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more information<\/a>, roughly 100 days before the presidential election, and it&rsquo;s clear that America&rsquo;s enemies have quite the vested interest in who ends up as POTUS.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/new-russian-hoax-media-group-equates-not-supporting-ukraine-pro-russia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Russia<\/a>, in particular, was called out as the &ldquo;predominant threat to U.S. elections.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But it was the information regarding Iran that has raised the most eyebrows &mdash; particularly among the pro-MAGA contingency of the GOP base.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Iran is continuing efforts to fuel distrust in U.S. political institutions and increase social discord,&rdquo; the ODNI update said. &ldquo;Since our last update, the IC has observed Tehran working to influence the presidential election, probably because Iranian leaders want to avoid an outcome they perceive would increase tensions with the United States.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Tehran relies on vast webs of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/andy-ngo-unmasks-antifa\/\" title=\"Andy Ngo Unmasks Antifa\">online personas<\/a> and propaganda mills to spread disinformation and have notably been active in exacerbating tensions over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/netanyahu-furious-kamala-harris-changes-tune-cameras\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Israel-Gaza conflict<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Many outlets, including the ideologically opposed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/iran-trying-sabotage-trumps-presidential-campaign-us-intelligence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/07\/29\/politics\/iran-covert-influence-campaign-trump\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNN<\/a> both, interpreted that verbiage from the ODNI as confirmation that Iran was specifically trying to undermine Trump &mdash; which is quite the irony given that Trump is oft described by his critics as the antithesis of democracy, while an actual theocratic dictatorship seems to want nothing to do with Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Much to the chagrin of NeverTrumpers who like to peddle that narrative, they have no way of explaining why Iran, an enemy of America by virtually any metric, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/jaw-dropping-security-trump-event-already-beefed-thanks-iran-threat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">does not like<\/a> Trump, period.<\/p>\n<p>Without going into any jingoistic, rah-rah routine (though, to be clear, Iran absolutely despises just how much Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nfl-hall-famer-throws-support-behind-trump-viral-photo-doesnt-matter-many-fake-charges-find-guilty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">embodies Americana<\/a>), you don&rsquo;t exactly need to be a detective to know why Iran is supposedly trying so hard to ensure Trump doesn&rsquo;t see a second term.<\/p>\n<p>In short: Trump is tough on Iran &mdash; especially when it comes to nuclear weaponry &mdash; in ways that President Joe Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-administration-quietly-trying-persuade-european-nuclear-officials-let-iran-off-hook-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reportedly is not<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And if you&rsquo;re a despotic, power-hungry country who hates America &hellip; wouldn&rsquo;t you want your nukes?<\/p>\n<p>It does need to be stressed: For whatever it may or may not mean for Iran to be trying to undermine Trump&rsquo;s election bid &hellip; what does that say about Biden and his administration?<\/p>\n<p>Something to think about come November.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ]; 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( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p>   <script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s well-known that Iran is not an ally of the United States. This authoritarian regime in the Middle East has been a persistent challenge to U.S. interests for many years, and recent reports suggest that the situation may be worsening. On July 9, Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence, expressed concerns about Iran&#8217;s potential influence on the upcoming 2024 general election. She indicated that these worries have been growing over time. &#8220;As I mentioned in my testimony to Congress in May, Iran is becoming more aggressive in its foreign influence activities, aiming to create division and erode trust in our democratic institutions\u2014something we&#8217;ve seen them do before during previous election cycles,&#8221; Haines stated at that time. &#8220;They are likely to continue adapting their cyber and influence strategies by utilizing social media platforms and making threats.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Fast forward to now, it\u2019s evident that Iran&#8217;s efforts have intensified. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence released additional information about 100 days before the presidential election, highlighting how America&#8217;s adversaries are keenly interested in who becomes President. Russia was identified as a major threat to U.S. elections; however, it was details regarding Iran that particularly caught attention\u2014especially among pro-Trump factions within the GOP.<\/p>\n<p>The ODNI update noted: &#8220;Iran continues its attempts to sow distrust in U.S. political institutions and escalate social discord.&#8221; It added that since their last report, intelligence agencies observed Tehran trying to sway the presidential election outcomes because Iranian leaders wish to avoid results they believe would heighten tensions with America. Tehran employs extensive networks of online personas and propaganda operations for spreading disinformation while notably exacerbating tensions related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.<\/p>\n<p>Media outlets across ideological lines\u2014including both Fox News and CNN\u2014interpreted this language from ODNI as evidence suggesting Iran is specifically working against Trump\u2014a striking irony considering critics often label Trump as undemocratic while an actual authoritarian regime seems opposed to him.<\/p>\n<p>For those who oppose Trump but promote this narrative (the NeverTrumpers), it&#8217;s challenging for them to explain why an enemy like Iran would want Trump out of office entirely without resorting to jingoistic arguments (though it&#8217;s clear they detest how much he represents American values). It&#8217;s not difficult to understand why Iran might be eager for Trump&#8217;s defeat: he has taken a hard stance against them\u2014particularly regarding nuclear weapons\u2014in ways President Joe Biden reportedly does not.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important also consider what this Iranian interference implies about Biden&#8217;s administration as we approach November&#8217;s elections<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2316097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Donald-Trump-23.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33064,3823,36673,36672,3634],"class_list":["post-2316096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-intel-officials","tag-iran","tag-political-interference","tag-presidential-run","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Donald-Trump-23.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2316096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2316096"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2316096\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2316097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2316096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2316096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2316096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}