In a renewed cyber threat concerning political tensions, Iranian hackers have reportedly threatened to leak a trove of confidential emails allegedly linked to U.S. President Donald Trump and his inner circle. This came as the United States approached the final leg of its 2024 presidential election campaign.

According to information sourced from Reuters, the hackers claim to have access to nearly 100 gigabytes of email data from several high-profile individuals connected to Trump. These include White House Chief of Staff Suzy Wills, Trump’s legal counsel Lindsay Halligan, campaign adviser Roger Storr, and adult film actress Stormy Daniels, known for her ongoing legal dispute with Trump.

Aimed at undermining Trump’s reelection prospects, hackers first accessed some of these emails in late 2023, and fragments were leaked to select media outlets. The group has now issued a warning that they intend to sell or release the remaining content, although specific plans remain unclear.

The nature of the data and its political or legal impact is still undisclosed.

While the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has yet to respond formally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has acknowledged the threat. FBI Director Kash Patel has issued a preliminary advisory, warning of the potential national security implications if the data is authentic and released at a politically sensitive time.

Iran meanwhile has officially denied any involvement, distancing itself from the cyber actors. Speaking at the United Nations, Iranian representatives rejected allegations that the state was behind the breach, asserting that these are independent actors not affiliated with the government.

This incident mirrors earlier claims by U.S. intelligence agencies, which accused Iran and other hostile nations of trying to disrupt American democratic processes through cyberattacks and disinformation efforts.