Hackers linked to Iran have threatened to release more emails that were obtained from President Donald Trump’s close associates, which include White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and Roger Stone, following the release of an earlier batch to the media ahead of the 2024 US presidential election.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency described the threats on X, and noted, as first reported by Reuters, that they represent a “calculated smear campaign.” This development comes as the Trump administration issued a warning indicating that “Iranian Cyber Actors” may target American businesses and those who manage “critical infrastructure.”
Three days ago, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, claimed that the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran’s nuclear facilities did not pose significant damage to the country’s nuclear program, leading Trump to announce the cessation of plans to potentially ease sanctions on Iran.
Who is Robert, and what is known about the group of hackers associated with Iran?
In discussions online over the weekend, individuals using the name “Robert” told Reuters they possessed around 100 gigabytes of emails that included communications from Wiles, Stone, former adult film star Stormy Daniels, Trump attorney Lindsey Halligan, and others.
While they did not disclose any specific details about the content, they indicated a willingness to sell the emails.
An indictment submitted last September against three Iranian nationals regarding the 2024 Trump cyber incident stated that the hacking operation known as “Robert” is overseen by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In response to the Reuters article, CISA spokesperson Marci McCarthy asserted that a “hostile foreign adversary” is attempting to illegally exploit allegedly stolen and unverified information as a means to distract, discredit, and create division.
According to McCarthy, this so-called cyber ‘attack’ is merely digital propaganda, and the selected targets are deliberate; its objective is to harm President Trump and undermine respected public officials who have made a mark in the United States.
“These criminals will be identified and brought to justice,” he continued.
In the meantime, US Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the hacking as “an unconscionable cyber-attack.”
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that anyone connected to a breach of national security would be thoroughly investigated and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, as indicated by both the White House and the FBI.
