As the election draws closer, Microsoft said that an Iranian hacker group known as "Cotton Sandstorm" that is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been monitoring US elections-related websites and media outlets.

Researchers claim that the group analyzed flaws in a US news outlet in May and was seen exploring many "election-related websites" in unidentified swing states.

The action is seen to be a possible prelude to direct influence activities. "Cotton Sandstorm will escalate its operations as the election approaches given the group's operating tempo and propensity of election interference," said experts from Microsoft. Concerns about the rerun of the group's prior attempts to meddle in US elections have been raised.

A representative for Iran's UN mission responded to the claims by calling them "fundamentally unfounded and wholly inadmissible," adding that Tehran neither possesses any motive nor desire to interfere in the US election.

In an effort to influence the 2020 US presidential election, Cotton Sandstorm—previously renowned for its cyber-enabled influence operations—posed as the far-right organization "Proud Boys" and threatened voters in Florida via email. The organization also published a video purporting to be hacktivists that showed an election system investigation with the intention of causing confusion and undermining trust in the electoral process.

The group's objective in 2020 was to sow doubt and uncertainty, even if there was no actual manipulation with voting systems. Cotton Sandstorm also started a campaign after the election to incite aggression towards US election authorities who denied extensive voter fraud.

Although the office did not immediately reply to requests for comment, US government organizations, particularly the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, are working together in efforts to protect the election from foreign meddling.