Cyberattack on U.S. Water Systems Hits at Least Seven States

Iran is behind the widespread cyberattack on U.S. water systems, The New York Times reported Saturday. According to the report, the scope of the attack has expanded significantly to include at least seven states, while U.S. officials believe the number of affected states may be even higher.

The development comes a day after The Washington Post revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies had issued an assessment finding that the regime in Tehran was behind a coordinated cyberattack against dozens of water systems in Minnesota. Minnesota was the first state to disclose the incidents, but other states have since joined it, including Michigan, which reported that its water systems were targeted in the attack.

Despite the growing scope of the incidents, reports indicate that no signs have yet been found that water quality was affected or that there is any danger to public health. In some cases, however, water facilities were forced to switch to manual operation after their computerized systems were compromised.

The New York Times reported that government officials, cybersecurity experts, and local authorities are on high alert, particularly over concerns about potential damage to control systems that monitor water quality, chemical treatment levels, and water pressure. Experts say an attack on this scale is nearly unprecedented in the United States, and authorities are therefore treating it with particular seriousness.

Despite the growing suspicion directed at Iran, U.S. authorities stress that the investigation is still in its early stages and that it cannot yet be determined conclusively that the Islamic Republic was responsible for the attack. Still, U.S. officials told The New York Times that Iran has stepped up its cyber activity since the war began five months ago, leaving it as the leading suspect.

U.S. President Donald Trump rejected the allegations against Iran, answering a reporter's question: "I don't think this is an Iranian cyberattack." Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, meanwhile, pushed back against Trump's remarks, as federal officials continued to make clear that Iran remains the immediate suspect.