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From Dispatch Room
United States President Donald Trump has rejected preliminary suggestions that Iranian-linked hackers may have carried out cyberattacks on water systems in Minnesota, instead blaming the state’s leadership for what he described as incompetence.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting on Friday, Trump offered no evidence for his claim and criticised Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, saying the state should “get its act together.” His remarks came while federal and state investigators were still working to identify those responsible for the attacks.
Minnesota IT Services said a coordinated cyberattack targeted operational technology at more than 30 community water systems on July 26 and 27. Officials said malicious actors remotely accessed equipment used to monitor and control water operations.
Although some communities experienced operational problems, authorities said there was no evidence that drinking-water quality had been compromised. Certain systems were temporarily operated manually, while residents in some affected areas were asked to limit water use.
Reports citing unnamed investigators have suggested that the activity may be linked to Iran, but no US agency has publicly issued a definitive attribution. Federal officials have stressed that the investigation remains preliminary and that conclusions could change as more evidence is examined.
Walz rejected Trump’s comments, saying the president knew other states had also been affected. He described the incidents as an example of modern warfare and accused previous federal cost-cutting efforts of weakening the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The FBI said water and wastewater utilities in at least seven states had reported related incidents since July 27. Hackers allegedly accessed internet-connected programmable logic controllers, changed passwords and network settings, and caused some operators to lose monitoring or control functions.
Federal agencies have advised operators to remove vulnerable control systems from direct internet access, change default passwords and ensure that facilities can continue operating manually during cyber disruptions.
US authorities have previously warned that Iranian-affiliated hackers were targeting internet-connected industrial equipment, including systems used by water and wastewater facilities. However, those warnings alone do not establish that Iran was responsible for the Minnesota attacks.
The investigation is continuing, with federal agencies expected to determine whether the Minnesota breaches were part of a coordinated foreign campaign or carried out by another group.
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