US election 2020: Russia and Iran call meddling claims 'groundless'
Putin and Rouhani
Both Russia and Iran on Thursday deniedUS allegations of having taken actions to influence public opinion ahead of the November 3 US presidential election.
According to the US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Russiaand Iran have obtained the US voter information and taken actions to influence public opinion ahead of the US election 2020.
Also read:Iran, Russia obtained voter registration information, says US intelligence director John Ratcliffe
"Accusations are raining down every day. All of them are absolutely groundless, they are not based on anything," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters after the allegations made by the US director of national intelligence.
US authorities "have put forward a baseless claim on the verge of the country's election so that they would advance their undemocratic and predefined scenario through shifting the blame," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement, after summoning the Swiss ambassador.
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Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Alireza Miryousefi, called the allegations "another scenario to undermine voter confidence" in the US and said the world had seen Washington's attempts to "question the outcome of its own elections at the highest level".
The US announcement came after registered Democratic voters reported receiving personally addressed emails in the name of the Proud Boys militia, and from the internet, a domain linked to the Proud Boys.
A number of voters in Florida and other key battleground states said they had gotten the messages.
"You will vote for Trump on election day or we will come after you," the emails said.
"Change your party affiliation to Republican to let us know you received our message and will comply. We will know which candidate you voted for," they said.
"I would take this seriously if I were you," the message ends, adding the voter's address. "Good luck.
Ratcliffe, with FBI Director Christopher Wray beside him, did not explain how the Russians and Iranians had obtained the voter information, or how the Russians might be using it.
US intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned that Russia, Iran, and China to a lesser extent had taken part in social media disinformation efforts aimed at influencing US voters.
In 2016, US officials say, Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw hacking and social media operations aimed at helping Trump to election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Iran's alleged use of the Proud Boys name in emails came after Trump refused to distance himself, and appeared to encourage, the group, which has appeared at political rallies heavily armed, and menacing others.