Intel officials warn Iran attempting to stop Trump in upcoming presidential election

Biden administration intelligence officials warned on Monday that Iran is trying to influence the upcoming U.S. presidential election by tipping the scales against former President Donald Trump.

The warning comes after the Biden administration unfroze billions of dollars of Iranian funds last year, as part of a hostage exchange that saw the release of five U.S. citizens held by the country's regime.

The officials warned that several foreign adversaries are trying to sway the election by targeting critical election infrastructure and through online campaigns, adding that Iran and Russia are the biggest concerns so far.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that Iran is attempting to influence the election by creating online personas and propaganda mills that intentionally spread disinformation.

"Iran is continuing efforts to fuel distrust in U.S. political institutions and increase social discord," the office said in a news release. "The [office] 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."

The officials also noted that Iran has been notably "active in exacerbating tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict."

The release claimed that the foreign adversaries are not just trying to influence the presidential election in November, but are also trying to sway congressional and other down-ballot elections that could negatively impact their country. 

The adversaries are trying to sway the country on both sides, with Russia allegedly trying to influence Americans to elect Trump in November in order to stop aid from going to Ukraine and Iran trying to keep Democrats in the Oval Office, according to Fox News.

The briefing comes after Iran was accused of plotting to assassinate Trump earlier this month, but Iranian officials have rejected the allegations. 

"From the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trump is a criminal who must be prosecuted and punished in a court of law for ordering the assassination of General Soleimani," the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran said in a statement to Fox News. "Iran has chosen the legal path to bring him to justice."

The Iranian allegations are not related to the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump, where a lone gunman shot the former president in the ear. That shooter does not have any suspected ties to a foreign country.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.